Recently I received a letter from a dear saint in America,
requesting advice on entering the foreign mission field. Because I feel this
relates to anyone desiring to find God’s will for their life, I am publishing
it here. This is my response.
A Question
of Timing…
Dear …… ; I just realized that I hadn't sent a response to
your question concerning what to do about taking care of your parents before entering
the foreign mission field. The issue of family responsibilities conflicting
with the call to the mission field, is one that many disciples have had to
struggle with. I know I did. And although I know you are aware of what the
scripture states, but, I would like you to know what I think they mean.
First of all, finding
an answer will require much prayer, wisdom and single mindedness, in seeking God’s truth. Any true answer concerning how and when to follow the Lord, must
be based on what Christ taught, as revealed in the scriptures and not what is
dictated by our personal feelings, the culture we live in or the fear of the
opinions of others.
Christ was very clear about counting the cost before
becoming His disciple. His reason was and is simple. There are two major issues
that can potentially thwart the Lord’s will for our lives. Those issues being, … people and possessions. (Luke 14:26, 33)
Those issues are why Christ stated in no uncertain terms,
that we must first examine (or count) the cost of following Him into the work
of the Kingdom. Then we must decide in
our hearts, no matter what that cost, to obey Him.
The Great
Feast
The Great Feast of Luke 14: 15-35 is not about consuming
great tasty food at some heavenly diner. It’s about eating the food that Christ
referred to after confronting the woman at the well.
In the
meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." But He said
to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." Therefore the
disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?" Jesus said to
them, "My food is to do the will of
Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. (John 4:31-34)
The food of the ‘Great Feast’, is to do the Father’s will and
finish His work. Not just talk about it, or discuss it in living rooms. Please read the passage below and ask yourself… how does this,
apply to my situation. It deals with the difference between the
feelings of wanting to serve in the Kingdom and the reality of the
cost. He loves you and will gladly share His wisdom.
Now when one of those who sat at the
table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the
kingdom of God!" Then He said to him, "A
certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at
supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now
ready.' But they all with one accord
began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of
ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' And another
said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you
to have me excused.' Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore
I cannot come.' So that servant came and reported these things to his master.
Then the master of the
house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out
quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the
lame and the blind.' And the
servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.'
Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and
compel them to come in, that my
house may be filled. For I say to you
that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.' " Now great multitudes went with Him.
And He turned and said to them,
"If anyone comes to Me and does
not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes,
and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his
cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
For which of you, intending to build
a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the
foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was
not able to finish.' Or what king, going to make war against another king, does
not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet
him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is
still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.
So likewise, whoever of
you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. "Salt is good; but
if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit
for the land nor for the dunghill, but
men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Luke 14:15-35)
The Timing of His Call…
Our
time to come to the great Feast (ie. doing His will)… is when we receive the
invitation. You cannot ‘eat’ (do His will), without that invitation. And the
timing of the Feast is not up to us either. It is determined by when we receive
the invitation.
Notice
their ‘reasons’ for not attending the Feast (or not doing God’s will) are
completely valid (nothing sinful here and most reasons are good) … yet… their negative
response, angered the King.
It was if they were saying to the King… Hey! You didn't consider what I’m currently doing!
The timing of this dinner engagement is just too inconvenient! It conflicts
with what I think is important. We would love to come but… not today… maybe
later. It wasn't as though we don’t want
to come, but just … not now. This response insulted the King’s knowledge of
their circumstances … hence, His anger.
The
punishment for not heeding the King’s voice, was and still is … “For
I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.”
They weren't condemned to hell, nor even cast away… they simply would not
be allowed to eat (ie. do His work).
Following
Jesus into Kingdom work demands absolute devotion to His will. Anything short of
absolute commitment will leave us vulnerable in the terrific spiritual battles
that will ensue when we begin His work. And trust me… they will come.
This
is why, when a disciple is confronted with God’s call (invitation to do His
will) and responsibilities toward loved ones, even that of family members in
great need, His will must come first. A serious moment of reflection will
remind us… that He is the God of the universe and has already taken in consideration all the
ramifications and problems involved in my decision to follow Him, before He
sent the invitation.
He said to another, "Follow
Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and
preach the kingdom Then of God." And another also said, "Lord, I will
follow You, but let me first go and
bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No
one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom
of God." (Luke 9:59-62)
Now
having said all that … please listen to me, when I say this. I am in no way
trying to indicate what or when you should do, whatever it is you feel the Lord
is leading you to do. That is completely between you and our King.
But if you believe that He is asking something of you, take the time to be very
clear as to what it might cost before you respond.
If
our Father has asked you to stay and take care of your parents …by all means do
so. Yet, if that is so… understand, He has not sent you His invitation to come
work in the foreign mission field.
The
Kingdom will only advance by our obedience and not our socially acceptable ideas.
The only righteous thing to do in any given situation is … whatever He tells us
to do. The mission field or the home field, are both valid places to lay down
our lives, but only when it is at His bidding.
Someone
asked me once when was we called to Africa? My response was… we were never
called to Africa… we were called to follow Him and do His bidding. What we are saying is this… if He has told you to go or begin
preparing to go out into the mission field, do not hesitate. But like Peter in
the boat… wait for His command.
And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord,
if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." (Mat 14:28)
If
you don’t know what He’s saying, then… wait until you do.
This
is one of the reasons I hope (at some point) you can come and visit us, meet
some other missionaries and see what missionary work is all about. If,
presently, you are still seeking to know His will is in this matter then
seeking to hear clearly His mind is exactly what you should be doing… presently.
Don’t try to ‘second guess’ whether you’re
ready or not… faith cannot be taken out of ourselves and examined to see if we
have it… but … in whatever He asks you to do …grace will be there when you need
it. You really can… walk on water.
Ask
the Lover of your soul for wisdom regarding this issue and he will not reproach
you, but rather will delight in giving you His wisdom on the matter. Only, be
ready to do whatever He says to do when He says do it… and … and don’t look back.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him
ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be
given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is
like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man
suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man,
unstable in all his ways. (Jas 1:5-8)
But Jesus said to him, "No one,
having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of
God." (Luke 9:62)
In
Conclusion…
So
in conclusion… take your time, expect Him to speak to you and be ready to be
obey Him regardless of the cost. If you are willing to do His will… you will
know what He is asking of you. This is a
spiritual principal to know anything spiritual.
If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the
doctrine, (what I teach) whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. (John 7:17)
Concentrate
on becoming completely His. His strong support will come to you, based on your loyalty
and not your qualifications.
For the eyes of the LORD run to and
fro throughout the whole earth, to show
Himself strong on behalf of those
whose heart is loyal to Him."
(2Ch 16:9)
FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE ON THE
RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ARE OPEN TO THEIR PRAYERS; BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS
AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL." (1Pe 3:12)
Always
remember… He’s the Father and we’re the children. Like any good Father it’s the
Father’s responsibility to let us know His heart, and it should be ours … to
obey it.
Much
love … the StoneHouse Family of Believers
Very good and very clear! Thank you for sharing that!
ReplyDeleteThank you Beth... I am looking forward to being with you and RCV in March. May God bless you much! Love abba
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