I am reminded of what Jesus spoke in the Scriptures in:
Matthew 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
There is a harvest out there. There are souls in need of Jesus Christ and just don’t realize it yet. They need someone to come along and share the truth with them. They need a missionary.
There has always been a need for laborers in God’s kingdom. Those who will not stay silent but will be moved with compassion for the lost and unashamedly witness to them regarding the work of Christ.
This is what missions is all about. Missions is not about where one goes, it is about what one does. Missions is to take place in every part of the world and that means where you and I currently live as much as across the world.
Jesus siad the Holy Spirit would empower us to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the utter most parts of the world. If the church does not begin to rethink missions in such a way that empowerment and vision can be released for the place the local church lives Christianity will continue to decline in America because the church will continue to think that only other parts of the world need the gospel.
There are lost souls right here where I live in Knoxville, TN. There are souls who think that they are okay but have never truly tasted the abundant life Jesus offers in every town and every city.
The gospel is good for every geographic location on earth so wherever we find ourselves is where it needs to be shared. We need to pray that laborers will be sent out into the harvest here at home and abroad. Every believer is a missionary, there are no elites.
The work place, the schools, the grocery store and our neighborhoods are all mission fields in need of someone who will simply share the good news and live loudly for Jesus Christ.
It's time to let a little life leak out to others. God calls us to labor.
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
