Mission Possible

Canon J John says it best:

 "A missionary is not someone who crosses the sea... A missionary sees the cross".


Those of us who really see the cross, who, with understanding, picture Jesus, lovingly exchanging his purity for our shame, are never the same again. We become new people.

A lot of people say that they believe in God. That Heaven is 'a nice idea'. They go to church a couple of times a year, or, on the odd occasion, when they are invited to a wedding. They sing the hymns with a smile and leave a donation to the church as they leave; feeling great, yet, very much, the same person.

Those who see the cross, who look to the cross in times of both despair and joy, who praise Jesus' sacrifice, who long to be more like Jesus, who live their lives according to his will, are missionaries; people who are constantly seeking to become better human beings because they know Jesus. 

They have made Jesus Christ their mission in life. 

Someone important to me is currently in India, on a mission trip. They have gone there to preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons and baptize people in Jesus' name. And I know that they will see and do some amazing things. They may have crossed the sea in order to do this, like so many missionaries do, but first, they saw the cross and knew what it meant. They then picked up their own cross and started following Jesus.

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me"

NIV Matthew 16:24

That is no easy feat; to choose personal sacrifice, and then follow an unseen God. And it is never going to be easy, but that doesn't stop it from being right.

When you next see a cross, don't just see it like the rest of the world sees it. Understand it in your soul; and then pick it up and follow Jesus. 


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