Declare His Glory...

by Debi Baker

"24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples."

1 Chronicles 16:24 NIV

When I first got saved and I heard we were going to have a missionary at church I would try to think of any reason to not go to church!  Yes...I am so ashamed NOW.  I was a 20-something new mom and it seemed like all they did was talk about their boring life and the ways of the people where they were missionaries.  Fast forward many years and I LOVE when we are fortunate enough to have a missionary for service!  I find their stories fascinating!  I find their stories exhilarating!  I find their stories filled with love!  I find their stories frightening!

The missionary family we had at church yesterday was amazing.  The part of the world they go into is...well, let's just say it reminds me of Jim & Elizabeth Elliott who went deep into the Ecuadorian jungle to minister to the Quichua Indians.  I pray for them often.  This family loves the people of the area they are in just as the Elliott's loved those Quichua Indians!  

This verse came to mind after service last night..."Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples."  Yes, this family has gone into the uttermost parts of the earth to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that ALL may hear and know He is Lord!!

Jesus gave us some very important instructions known as the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.  

Matthew 22:36-40 NIV:  The Great Commandment…

"³⁷ …'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.   ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment.  ³⁰ And the second is like it:  'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Matthew 28:16-20 NIV:  The Great Commission…

"¹⁸ …'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey verything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"

Those verses tell us to go, but that doesn't mean everyone is to go to a foreign land.  They simply mean that EVERYONE has a mission in this life; and that mission is to TELL and to TEACH others that God gave His Son for OUR salvation!

I challenge you to pray for all missionaries...foreign and otherwise.  They need our prayers.  Some of them are in very dangerous places; others are not.  They covet the prayers of God's people!!

Have a blessed day!