What Mission Work Cannot Promise You
It's almost been eight months since I've been here in Palau, and honestly I have learned a lot. I have learned glimpses of what it means to be independent, to be responsible, to be self-motivated, and to become more of the man that God wants me to be. But I have a disclaimer to make for those who may have a sugar coated idea of what mission work is responsible for. Mission work is not responsible for turning you into a God-fearing person that has a love for ministry and hate towards sin. I repeat, it may not turn you into a God-fearing person that hates sin. That my friend....... is up to you.
I had this idea that as soon as I jump in the plane and arrive in Palau I would grow exponentially in my spiritual walk. However, it wasn't always that way. Yes there were times in which I felt a close connection with the Lord, but there were also times in which I felt as if I were in a ditch. I would let my guard down and be stagnant with my spiritual walk. The bad habits that I struggled with back home would come back as if they had no respect for me leaving the country in the first place! I would get frustrated because I am the same person that I was as I left. But then it hit me.
The person you are as you board the plane is also going to be the same person you are when you step out of the plane. The habits you struggle with at home is still going to be nagging at you when you're doing missions. Put away this facade that you will become a super saint once you spend some time in missions. Personal growth happens through personal investment in Jesus! It doesn't matter where you are, if you decide to invest in the Lord, He's the one that's going to make you grow. That was what I was missing. Being here is not my growth ticket, it is simply an extra opportunity for growth. The decision for growth was up to me.
Now please understand that I'm not trying to say that a year in missions won't help you, because I'm confident it will! I mean, when have you ever heard anybody say that they spent a year in missions and didn't gain a blessing from it..... never. What I am trying to say is this, no place on earth is responsible for you spiritual walk with Jesus. That is up to you and your commitment to the Lord.
So wether you are in school or in Papua New Guinea doing missions, seek God daily! You may think to yourself, "man, I'm never going receive as much of a blessing as Bob because he's overseas." However, that is not true. You too can have an experience as powerful as one who is dedicating time overseas. All you need is to consecrate yourself to the Lord and seek him daily.
And if there's a missionary out there reading this, remember to seek the Lord even more. We to can be stagnant when we start to understand the flow of things. Seek the Lord because He is the only one that can help you grow and truly use you to bless those you come in contact with.
“Seek the Lord and His Strength; Seek His face continually.”
