The Tenth of Ten days

Acts 28:17-31

The ends of the earth continue to be the ultimate objective (Romans 15:20-24).

The book of Acts ends with Paul preaching the good news as a prisoner in Rome, but in the last 10 days hopefully you have seen Acts unfold as a story of how the gospel spread from Jerusalem to Rome by the power of the Spirit at work in the lives of Jesus’ followers. There is some irony in the story ending in Rome for Paul in the fact that he had wanted to visit the believers there, but he never intended to stay. In fact, he had written them telling them that he planned to visit them as he passed by on his way to Spain (another end of the earth type place). If you haven’t done so already read Romans 15:20-24 now. Paul’s ultimate objective was to take the gospel to people and places where Jesus was not known. In fact, this objective had become Paul’s passion. As a result, Paul’s life and ministry was shaped by this passion. Rather than staying and building large churches where Paul had begun works, he continued on the journey to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. The passion to reach the unreached had even kept him away from Rome at times in his ministry (Romans 15:22).

What a challenging mindset. You get the sense that Paul could never be satisfied even in a thriving church knowing that there were people in the world that have never even heard of Jesus. We need that same mindset to sweep over a generation of students. Too long we have stayed in the comfort of America where we can easily seclude ourselves in a Christian culture while there are still extreme places on the planet where people do not know His name. American Christians for some reason have adopted a stay until He tells me to go mindset, when the Bible teaches a go unless He tells you to stay lifestyle. Yes, Jesus has declared us to be his witnesses right where we are, but it is time to remember the rest of his declaration. We are living in the last days of Acts 1:8. Much of the world has been saturated with the gospel, but there are still many who have never heard. Like Paul, we must make it our passion and objective to share Jesus with those on the planet who have never heard.

So, what does this mean for you as you come to the end of the iGo Challenge? The truth is that the real challenge begins now as you decide what you will do with the things God has poured into your life over the past 10 days. For some, you may be ready to go on a mission trip right now and it seems like too long to wait before the next opportunity comes along. Being an Acts 1:8 Christian is not about taking mission trips, but instead is about living an on mission lifestyle. Below are some possible action steps you could take as you respond to the iGo Challenge.

Build a friendship with an international student on your campus or in your community. Americans have refused to go the nations for so long, it is almost as if God has decided to bring the nations to us. Our universities are filled with international students, many of whom come from end of the earth areas. You may know an international person in your neighborhood or even in your high school. God may be calling you to begin right where you are by crossing some cultural barriers here at home to reach out to those around you.

Continue to develop your awareness of God’s purpose and plan. You can do this by reading biographies of missionaries or other missions focused books such as Unveiled at Last or Let the Nations be Glad. The internet can be a huge resource as you seek information on missions as well.

Pray about and plan towards your involvement in global missions. It is never to early to begin talking with your parents and church leaders about participating in global missions. Search through the opportunities on our website and ask God to point you in a specific direction. God seems to be raising up a new generation of students that will see missions involvement as the norm rather than the exception. Perhaps God is going to use you as a leader in this movement as you commit to participating in global missions for a summer, semester, or even a year before you graduate from college.

Feel free to email us at info@thegofoundation if you have any questions or need any help as you seek God’s direction. We would love to hear about the things He has shown you and done in your life over the past 10 days as well.

God, I want to be an on mission Christian, so please help me to become one. Give me a passion for your glory among the nations. Make my objective in life to be your witness wherever I am and all the way to the ends of the earth. God, help me to align my entire life according to your agenda and your desires. Don’t allow anything to keep me from being involved in what you are doing on a global scale. Use these past 10 days to transform my mindset and my lifestyle, and use it to confirm the calling you have placed on my life. Show me the things in my life that I need to give over to you, change, or work on in order to join you on mission in the world. I want you to know that I am ready to go, and I will go unless I clearly hear you tell me to stay. I love you. Amen.