When I was very young I first heard the Great Commission. It was very broad and a bigger goal than I could ever accomplish on my own. Luckily this didn’t mean anything to me though because I was not yet a christian, so I felt no burden. During my freshman summer I became a christian and that following sophomore year it was definitely hard to deal with this burden of the Great Commission. Especially on the shoulders of a rebellious 14 year old, who wasn’t afraid to speak out when people didn’t feel the same. I found myself saying repeatedly to people “You have to do this!” or “You have to do that!” Feeling an urgency few felt.
As the years continued I found myself falling short of my own words, unable to keep to commitments: these “Have to’s” that I had said. During the same time I entered into a very rough time of a rea-curing sin that I still struggle with to this day. I was realizing just the depravity of myself and of the human race in whole, how sinful we truly are, that in any circumstance we would choose to sin over God but yet Christ pulled us into paradise kicking and screaming. Beginning to understand this concept, of depravity and grace, began to redevelop my school of thought in missiology(study of evangelism).
Today walking in the village, that we went to to build relationships with locals, I realized the Great Commission isn’t a “Have to” it’s a “Get to”. We, the very creatures who rebelled against God. We, the enemies of the most holy. We, the ones who he had to bring out of trash. We, are the ones he has allowed to share this message. We, who were the bad guys in the story. What grace it is to “get to” share the gospel, that has saved my sisters and I, to these villagers.
That’s definitely a “Get to” not a “Have to”.
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(It’s ya boy AUS(aka hughesy(aka austin hughes)))
Yeah Austin! You are so right! Praying for all of you. BeautiControl Skin Care & Cosmetics _www.beautipage.com/janhibbs_ (http://www.beautipage.com/janhibbs) 1 843 856 4840 JaniceGHibbs@aol.com
I love it, Austin! When our obedience is rooted in love, it is definitely an I-Get-To!
Amen! Praise The Lord for the privilege of sharing Jesus! And His provisions for us to GO when we hear his call and answer “Send me, I’ll go!”
For His Glory, Lisa Hughes Preschool Ministry Director Noah’s Park at LifePark 843.452.3221 Sent from my iPhone
On May 18, 2013, at 12:58 PM, Serving Together wrote:
WordPress.com Serving Together posted: “When I was very young I first heard the Great Commission. It was very broad and a bigger goal than I could ever accomplish on my own. Luckily this didn’t mean anything to me though because I was not yet a christian, so I felt no burden. During my freshman”