All Nations

Philippians 2

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (v. 2:1-9)

As the body of Christ, our mind is meant to be the same; it is meant to be one.  And our singular, unified mind comes from Christ Jesus who perfectly taught and modeled how we ought to think.  His thinking was grounded in selfless humility.  GOD - was humble.  And this humility in thinking led to humility in action - He "made himself nothing".  Humility is a requirement of service, sacrifice, and obedience to God which Jesus fulfilled to the point of death.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (v. 10-11)

At the name of Jesus Christ every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.  In other words, every one will be humbled before Jesus.  There will be no exception.  However, we will either do it for our eternal joy or our eternal torment, dependent on personal faith in Jesus Christ during this life time.  Either way, every one will be humbled and Jesus Christ will be highly exalted to the glory of God the Father!

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.  Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. without blemish. (v. 12-18)

Just as Jesus' humility of mind led to humility of action (service, sacrifice, and obedience to God) our humility before Him should also lead to obedience.  And this is what our obedience should look like: working out our salvation with fear and trembling, doing all things without grumbling or questioning, shinning as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, rejoicing with gladness.  This obedience is lived out by the "children of God".  This obedience is lived out "in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation" - that is where we shine.  This obedience is lived out at all times.  This obedience is lived out through God's strength, "for it is God who works in you".  And this obedience is "to the glory of God the Father".

I am a child of God, living in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, called to shine as a light to this world, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father.  I have the opportunity (and with God, the ability) to lose my life for Christ's sake and therefore save it.

"GO therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) 

The question isn't "Should I go?" but "Where should I go?"

The 10/40 Window

The 10/40 Window is home to the majority of the world's unevangelized (crooked and twisted) countries.  While it constitutes only 1/3 of earth's total land area, nearly 2/3 of the world's people reside in the 10/40 Window... How could I not go?

"God does not find our requests too big, He finds our dreams too small." -C.S. Lewis