A few days ago, I was reading a Bible story to the kids.
This story was about the Passover. For some reason, this story has stuck with
me for several days. I have been reflecting on it in my free moments. Today, I
was so curious about Passover that I googled the date. I had to look twice, but
sure enough. Today, April 10th, 2017, is the beginning of Passover
in Jewish culture. This story ties so well into the Easter story and it encompasses the
“why” of us being in full-time ministry.
Passover. What is it? In the book of Exodus, Moses was
appealing to Pharaoh to let the Israelites be freed from slavery and go to
their homeland. Pharaoh’s heart was hard. He did not want to let his slave
labor up and leave, after all! So God sent plagues on the land of Egypt. He
sent plagues of frogs, locusts, turning the water into blood, and many more. But
Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go. The plague that finally changed Pharaoh’s
heart was one in which God vowed to kill the firstborn of every house in Egypt.
This swept from Pharaoh’s son to the firstborn son of the cattle in the land.
But God made a way for the Israelites to be saved through
the sacrifice of a lamb. The lamb had to be spotless and carefully chosen.
After the lamb was killed, anyone who believed in God was supposed to put some
of the lamb’s blood on their doorpost. Then God would pass over those houses
and death would not reach them. The people were to stay inside and cook the
lamb and eat it, not leaving their houses until morning. The lamb was
sacrificed so that the people would not die.
The blood shall be a sign for you
on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over
you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. – Exodus 12:13
God passed over those who had given the sacrifice of the
lamb.
This story shows the wrath of God, His judgement. It also
shows His mercy for those who believe.
This story precedes a later story in
which the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus, was sacrificed on the cross. His
sacrifice, and His blood, caused God’s wrath to be averted. God passes over our
sin, if we believe in Him. God has made a way for sinners to be saved by the
blood of a Lamb a second time. A final time.
He said, “It is finished!” And He
bowed His head and gave up His spirit. - John 19:30
This is why we are called to full time ministry. God has
called us to tell others about Jesus death and resurrection. God has called us
to tell others, that Jesus has taken the wrath of God against our un-holiness,
and He has put it upon himself so that we might be saved. If we only believe in
Him, and rest under the bloodstained doorpost of His grace.
Can we save anyone? No. God already did. We must tell others
about this good news. That Jesus saves. That Jesus has saved if we believe.
Could God accomplish cross-cultural mission work without us?
Could God tell people in remote parts of the world His goodness? I have no
doubt that He could and He can. We are merely His instruments, which He is
using to carry out the task of spreading His word and showing His gift of
Salvation to those who have never heard His name and have little means to hear
His name.
By working at a school whose focus is to educate the
children of Missionaries, Zach will have the opportunity to keep other
missionaries on the field, and to continue the work that God has called them
to. The school also has local children enrolled, which gives Zach the
opportunity to witness to children who may not be followers of Christ.
By working in IT, Zach is helping missionaries spend more
time in ministry and less time fighting with technology.
By getting involved in sewing outreaches I will have the
opportunity to directly interact with those who have never heard of Jesus.
By living in a community that has very little knowledge of
Jesus Christ, Zach and I hope to be used by God to show those who have never
heard of Jesus, what He has done for them.
For we do not preach ourselves but Christ
Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God,
who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our
hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of
Christ.
But we have this treasure in
earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God
and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed,
but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not
destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the
life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. - 2 Corinthians 4:5-10
By supporting us financially, you are also God’s vessels to
keep us on the field and able to work in full time ministry.
But when Silas and Timothy came
down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word,
solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. - Acts 18:5
By supporting us in prayer, you are a part of our ministry
and the work that God is doing around the world.
Therefore, confess your sins to
one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective
prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. - James 5:16
Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection showed His
love for a broken world. His death showed His desire that none should perish,
even though the wrath of God is great. The sacrifice of the Lamb of God, was
enough that God’s wrath be averted and God’s mercy displayed for all who
believe in Him.
That is why we do what we do. God made a way for all to be saved.
We want to tell the world. The part of the world that God has called us to
tell, is Niger.
Where has God called you?
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