Life Changing Vs. Experience

As you remember, this past Wednesday we dedicated the whole service to missions.  Pastor Sean, Len and I each had the opportunity to talk about that time in our lives when we first felt God calling us to go on a missions trip and take our part in fulfilling the Great Commission.  So often, the focus of this can be the calling you have to go and then the experience you have on the trip, but I think the most important part of a missions trip is the aftermath.   Where do you go from there?  Will you let it be just a cool “God-experience” or will you let it truly change your life?

            About a year ago I spent ten days in North Africa in a Muslim country and I pondered this question on the flight home and the Lord led me to the story of Jesus washing His disciples feet.  I wrote some notes down and figured I could share them with you.  The story takes place in John 13:1-17.  Here’s what I wrote:

V. 1- “He loved them to the end”

-Continue loving these people (just because the trip is over, doesn’t mean it has to end)

            -How can I do this?  Prayer!  There is nothing greater you can do than continue in prayer for the people you met.

-Love them with everything (be willing to sacrifice)

            -I believe this goes with prayer, but also fasting.  Fasting and praying is a powerful way to continue loving.

V. 3- “Knowing that the Father…”

-We know God has given us a task. “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?  You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet” – Psalm 8:4-6 

-Stick with this task in all things.  He has made us rulers of this Earth.

-Trust that He knows what He is doing and what He is using you for (Faith).

V. 4-5- “laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself”

-Fully took on the job (took on the form of a slave Philippians 2:7)

- Accepted the responsibility (Matthew 20:28)

-We have to accept the responsibility that God has given us to "let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

V. 6-10- “Lord, are You washing my feet?”

-Be humble enough to serve, yes, but to also be served

-Don’t question what God is doing (things can seem out of control or upside down, but God has it in control.  He knows what He is doing)

-Feet washed every day (we are defiled by the world daily, even if we don’t realize it.  Allow the Lord to cleanse you DAILY)

V. 11-17- “…blessed are you IF you do them”

-We know these things

-Don’t let it be an “if”, but a “when”

-Just do it (who cares what the world thinks, we’re serving Christ who served us)

-Everything you DID on the trip, you can also DO at home.  The Holy Spirit doesn’t just stop working because you’re home.  He is everywhere!

In closing, I think the most important thing you can do is to remember the Gospel every day.  If you remember what Christ did on the cross for you and His resurrection, it will be hard to turn back to the world.  Take time each day to “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good” (Psalm 107:1) and you will never forget what the Lord did in and through you.

-Sean Fryer