Jul 1, 2020 Three must-have missionary skills – and you have them!

Each day, the staff of QHM gathers to pray. And one of the things we pray for is those who are considering joining a mission trip. Paul and Timothy so beautifully explain it in Colossians 1:3-6:

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s peopleÑ the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole worldÑjust as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 

There is no question that the thought of an international mission trip can be intimidating and speaking for an evangelistic series may not be “your style” of sharing Jesus.

But a mission team is not comprised of a single set of talents. There are only three must-haves.

1. A love of Jesus

Do you love Jesus and want to share your gratitude for what He has done for you? It doesn’t matter if you are a “show them” or “tell them” (or both!) kind of person, God can use you to reflect His love to others. All you have to do is ask Him to shine through you. That’s it! He takes care of the rest. In Philemon 1, Paul writes:

I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

That is true today! Your love of Jesus will offer great joy and encouragement to those around you.

2. A willing heart

Sometimes, we don’t know what we could possibly add to a mission team that someone else couldn’t do better. But God has a role for every single one of us when we go on God’s errands. Isaiah’s commission was this:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, Here am I. Send me!

Are you ready to be sent? Are you ready to answer God’s call to serve your brothers and sisters who are searching for the peace that Jesus brings? Is today the day that you say “Here I am, send me!”

3. Some loaves and fishes

God has given each of us a little treasure and a little talent. When we offer those up to Him, he multiplies them into something incredible. Remember the young boy who offered Jesus his five loaves of bread and two little fish? God took that meager offering and fed five thousand people! Luke recounts the story in Chapter 9:

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Like loaves and fish, God promises to take our meager offerings and multiply them to spiritually feed thousands. Are you ready to trust Jesus with your time, treasure and talents?

You’ve go these three must-have missionary skills. Are you ready to put them in God’s hands and answer His call to serve in the mission field?

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