“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the Church. Worship is.”
“God’s worldwide purpose is to gather joyful worshipers for Himself from every tribe, and tongue, and people and nation.”
Both these quotes are hanging on the wall of our Wycliffe classroom. How often do I do something at church or in the community because I feel obligated to serve? How often do we, in the US, get so focused on doing things and forget it is out of honor and worship that we should serve. There is nothing wrong with helping in children’s ministry, vacation bible school, the church choir, volunteering at a food bank or the countless other ways we can serve. But what I forget is, what God really wants – us. Time with us and He wants our worship.
Last week I found out that a dear friend of mine does not have much time left on earth, because she is losing her battle with cancer. My first response was- I am going to miss her, her family is really going to miss her, she is such a blessing to those around her and she will soon be gone.
My second thought was, now that we are going into missions and ultimately going to move to Tanzania, far from all our friends and family, how many more times am I going to get news like this via email or Facebook? How many times will I not have a chance to say goodbye? How many funerals will I miss? I also know the Lord our God carries us as a man carries his son. (Deut 1:31). God will carry us through those times.
The next thing that God gave me was a beautiful image of my friend being greeted at the gates of heaven by all her family and friends that went to heaven before her. Then I saw her jumping with hands raised as she was singing and worshiping God, with a whole and new body.
I was reminded that this IS the reason that we, as a family, are moving to Tanzania. We will be helping with the translation of the Bible into 9 related languages. This way, many more can read and hear God’s word in their own language, can enter into a personal relationship with God, and can one day worship at the throne of God!
---Chris
Chris - thank you for being so open with how you are feeling. Reading other's "versions" of our experience really helps me adjust to all these transitions. I will be thinking of you a little more often now and praying for your friend and the family involved as well.
ReplyDeletePraying for all of you!!
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