Isaiah 65:1:
“I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ to a nation that was not called by my name.”
John 15:16:
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
1 Corinthians 1:9:
“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:28-29:
“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”
Ephesians 4:4:
“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call.”
Philippians 3:14:
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24:
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
2 Thessalonians 2:14:
“To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Timothy 1:9:
“Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”
1 Peter 1:15-16:
“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
1 Peter 2:21:
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
1 Peter 3:9:
“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”
“I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ to a nation that was not called by my name.”
John 15:16:
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
1 Corinthians 1:9:
“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:28-29:
“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”
Ephesians 4:4:
“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call.”
Philippians 3:14:
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24:
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
2 Thessalonians 2:14:
“To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Timothy 1:9:
“Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”
1 Peter 1:15-16:
“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
1 Peter 2:21:
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
1 Peter 3:9:
“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”
The picture above is a typical family here in Ghana. I hope you are following me on Facebook and enjoying what I am able to post.
DISCOURAGEMENTS: Sometimes, ministry is overwhelmingly discouraging. Over time, the mundane ebb and flow of ministry can erode the shoreline of one’s internal sense of calling and conviction to do the work. During such seasons, it’s important for missionaries to nourish their souls with the word of God. The Lord knows that we get discouraged, which is why he directly speaks to this so often. The great heroes of Scripture often got discouraged. Elijah almost gave up on ministry entirely (1 Kings 18-19).
The Apostle Paul described the hardships of ministry this way: “[W]e felt that we had received the sentence of death.” But he knows the purpose—“But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians. 1:9). Like Paul, and like Elijah, these Bible verses are meant to be a respite for missionaries in the midst of ministry discouragement.
ACTION STEP: Please keep us in your prayers. Reflect on these verses as you consider whether God is calling you to the mission field. Pray that he would open your heart to the global need that exists for faithful workers to preach the gospel and stay long enough to reap a harvest. Pray that God would show you how to participate in the great work he is doing through the gospel around the globe as you consider the rich theme of missionary work in Scripture.
I believe in you and you need to believe in yourself.
DISCOURAGEMENTS: Sometimes, ministry is overwhelmingly discouraging. Over time, the mundane ebb and flow of ministry can erode the shoreline of one’s internal sense of calling and conviction to do the work. During such seasons, it’s important for missionaries to nourish their souls with the word of God. The Lord knows that we get discouraged, which is why he directly speaks to this so often. The great heroes of Scripture often got discouraged. Elijah almost gave up on ministry entirely (1 Kings 18-19).
The Apostle Paul described the hardships of ministry this way: “[W]e felt that we had received the sentence of death.” But he knows the purpose—“But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians. 1:9). Like Paul, and like Elijah, these Bible verses are meant to be a respite for missionaries in the midst of ministry discouragement.
ACTION STEP: Please keep us in your prayers. Reflect on these verses as you consider whether God is calling you to the mission field. Pray that he would open your heart to the global need that exists for faithful workers to preach the gospel and stay long enough to reap a harvest. Pray that God would show you how to participate in the great work he is doing through the gospel around the globe as you consider the rich theme of missionary work in Scripture.
I believe in you and you need to believe in yourself.
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