Whenever I speak with Christians about missions (which has been almost daily for the past 40 years), I usually hear the same expression (excuse): "I don't feel called." My reply sometimes goes like this: "I don't either." Surprise, surprise. And what, pray tell, do I mean by that? First, I don't rely on "feelings" in my response to God's Word. There is a place for feelings; God made us with a capacity for a full range of emotions. But it is very difficult to understand someone who calls Jesus Christ his or her Lord, when they respond to a clear command with "I don't feel like it." Lord, have mercy on my brothers and sisters who don't "feel like" obeying You. Second, although I have spent most of my adult life as a so called "full-time" missionary, it wasn't a call to which I responded: it was a command by the Lord of the Universe to all His disciples. When it finally dawned on me Who He was (Commander-In-Chief) and who I was (a young recruit and foot soldier), I never doubted that there was any proper response other than "Yes Sir." "But He didn't command all of us. Some (most) of us have to stay behind and make a living." Interesting. I know what is meant by that remark and admit to there being some truth in it. What's wrong, is that reply almost entirely misses the point. Look at what the Lord said. "Go and make disciples of all nations... and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28: 19-20 So was he speaking to disciples who lived 2,000 years ago and not to us? Yes, but. What did He command them to do? They, and disciples down through the centuries up to and including the present, are to teach us to obey all that He commanded them. Which was to "Go and make disciples of all nations... and teach them to obey everything..." There is no excuse - NONE - for any Christian to disobey the clear command of the Lord Jesus Christ. If "going" as a full-time, professional missionary is not God's will for your life, He will show you what part is yours. Some of the more obvious positions for support personnel are: Prayer Warriors, and intercessors who get much more involved than the occasional "Lord, bless all the missionaries." Financial Partners play an extremely important role in the battle to extend the kingdom of God to "all nations." Ministry needs on the "field" are as costly as at the home base. Volunteer Workers are a reserve that helps make the work of those on the front line much more efficient and effective. Mobilizers in God's army are the "recruiters" who are always enlisting a fresh supply of prayer, money and workers (full and part time). Short-termers are increasingly important in Great Commission endeavors. Properly prepared and supervised, a group of short-termers (even those who go for only 2 to 3 weeks) can accomplish more than you might think. Over the past 17+ years, my wife and I (full-timers) have taken with us over 800, short-termers. We know better than anyone else, how little we could have done without them.
Everyone who names the name of Jesus, who calls him or herself Christian, has been "commanded" to be some part of the greatest enterprise on earth: making disciples, baptizing them, teaching them to obey. Where do you serve? Whom do you serve? Jesus Christ gave the command - not I. Have you responded? I pray that if your response has been inadequate or half-hearted that you will repent, plead for mercy, then find your place and do whatever He tells you to do. "He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps (or waits for a call or a feeling) during harvest is a disgraceful son." Proverbs 10:5 "I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields; they are ripe for harvest." Jesus Christ, John 4:35  | 
