Thursday, July 1, 2010

Seeking Pure Motivation for Mission

As you read this I will be in Mexico serving alongside 12 other devoted individuals sent out by the Southwest Church on a Mission Trip to Piedras Negras, Mexico. Piedras Negras is a poverty stricken border town in Mexico near Eagle Pass, Texas. Before our first trip to Mexico in 2009, I had read in a travel guide, that “Piedras is an unattractive city and you will not want to spend much time there.” Although from a tourist point of view, I could not agree more with the travel guide and yet for someone who is seeking to look at life through a Biblical Worldview I feel compelled to return for another visit this year.

Jesus traveled to some unattractive cites while he walked on this earth. On one occasion the Bible records the following: Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” (Matthew 9:35-38 NLT)

In this description of Jesus’ ministry we get a glimpse of the motivation for his mission on earth. He was deeply moved by the hurting and harassed people that he encountered in his travels. His compassion for the brokenness of the human race led him to not only to teach and to serve those people in need, but to pray and inspire others to serve likewise. Jesus recognized that there is not a scarcity of need in the world nor is there a shortage of people who will gladly respond to God’s Good News of Love, but there is a shortage of workers.

Will you be an answer to Jesus’ prayer and be his hands and feet in the world that you live? Will you join Jesus in his prayer for more workers? And will you join me in praying that our 2010 Mexico Mission Team will bring Good News to some people who desperately need good news?

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