The Backyard

How often have you heard stories of people going out into the world, on a mission in pursuit of (insert "whatever" here) and upon returning, they discover what they were looking for...practically in their backyard. Not literally, perhaps, but what they desired was dramatically closer than they expected.

Such is the case with missions. Yes, we are to go into all the world, but if every person left their home to reach the lost from afar, doesn't that imply that someone should be heading to your home to reach "your world'? I don't say this as justification to discourage those in or entering the mission field, but there are lost people on every land mass on this earth. Someone left to guard the home front should also be working on gaining some ground as well. 

We see this in the parable of the talents. The men "went out" and brought back a great return. The one who stayed behind and hid it in the backyard, could have at least gone into town and brought back some sort of increase. God will one day ask what we did. Its kind of scary to think one might answer, "Not only did I not go into all the world, I didn't bother to go into town and put my talent to work, that I may bring to you, a return on the investment you made in me."

On this #missionsFriday, pray for missionaries abroad...may their efforts bring about a great return on God's investment. Pray for those, who don't consider themselves missionaries on the home-front. May they have a change in perspective, that God has placed them where they are, that no matter what their hands may find to work, may their words and deeds speak to the souls around them. Pray they hear that God is real and relevant for today; with a plan and purpose for every individual; unwillingly that they leave this earth, not knowing what their life could be in Christ.

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