Your Role in the Great Commission

I am constantly reminded of how everyone has a role in the work of the Kingdom of God. The tragic problem is that few know what that role is or even bother to seek the Lord to know where they fit into His work of reaching the nations with the Good News of the Gospel.

When our family was in Kentucky we had the privilege of connecting with some dear friends that we had not seen in over five years. As we were saying our good-byes and getting ready to hit the road again their son, who is Ezra's age, came over to the driver's door where I was seated. And in his hand he held a ten dollar bill that was his own money. He gave it to me and said that he wanted us to use it for our ministry. That young man had found his role. He found where, at least for now as a ten year old young man, he fit into God's Kingdom work.

I told him that what he was doing in giving and "sending" is just as important as what God has called us to do in the "going." Unfortunately, we often miss this. There is a tendency to think that those who go and live cross-culturally and take the Gospel have the more important role. Nothing could be further from the truth. Without the "senders" there could be no "goers." The Apostle Paul states it like this: "And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" (Romans 10:15). The goers are vital to the spread of the Gospel AND the senders are vital to the spread of the Gospel. Just having goers is not enough; without senders the goers never get to go!

I am thankful that young man in Kentucky found his role in God's work of reaching the nations with the Gospel. His obedient giving of a  ten dollar bill IS JUST AS IMPORTANT as our obedient going to Africa. It takes goers and it takes senders. It takes people who are willing to seriously ask God, "What is my role in the Great Commission?" And then it takes radical and joy-filled obedience to what He calls you to do. That's God's plan to reach the nations and you have a role in it that is likely bigger than you have ever dreamed! I challenge you to ask Him what it is.