A Holy Calling
As a missionary for the Apple of His Eye, I am a missionary in New Jersey. As of recently, we have been talking about getting a team to work with me here in New Jersey, and part of that process has involved me taking up the task of typing a job description...
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10, ESV).
...What kinds of talents, skills, and characteristics does a full-time missionary internship require?
As I’ve been thinking about this task, 1 Peter 2:9-10 has been coming to mind a lot; in some sense, all Christians are called to be missionaries (not all are called to be full-time missionaries) But all are called to: “proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you [them] out of darkness” (1 Peter 2:9b ESV). According to Saint Peter, Christians are part of a “royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9a ESV) And what, one might ask, does it mean to be holy? Well, when we are talking about people or things to be holy is to be set apart for a God-given purpose.
And St. Peter is quick to answer what the “God-given purpose” or “job description” of being a royal priesthood and holy nation is. It involves: proclaiming and sharing the message of Jesus with those that God places in their path. We all get to have the opportunity to tell others about how God has shown us mercy in Jesus Christ, how God has promised to raise us from the dead and grant us eternal life with Him, and how God’s Word has been a great light in our lives.
So, if that’s the job description how can we do that?
First, it can begin with those God has placed directly in our lives. We can be witnesses to our friends, family, and co-workers as we have opportunities to ask them about their faith, pray for and with them, and see how God is giving us opportunities to share our testimony with them.
Secondly, it can begin with conversations at restaurants, sporting events, or coffee shops. We can begin to establish relationships with people, meet people for meals, ask about their lives, and pray for them. A question a friend of mine who works in church revitalization likes to ask is: “Are you a person of faith.” It is a question that is open to a variety of responses. They don’t need to be active in any particular religion or church to answer “yes,” “no,” or “I am unsure.” It’s okay if the individual is not ready to enter a church. We ultimately want people to be plugged into a community. We want them to be in church to hear God’s Word, learn what it means to be a Christian, be baptized, receive the Lord’s supper, and be part of the community of faith. That is a great and right desire. But, sometimes, we can start small.
We can start by praying, showing we care, and sharing the Gospel and our story of how God “called you [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9, ESV). It takes time, but building those relationships is a fruitful exercise. When you do this, you can take notes in a notebook or on your phone (after meeting with the person): What is their name? What do they do for a living? Do they have a family? Do they have any hobbies? Are they people of faith, and if so, what is their faith? Where are they on their spiritual walk? So that you can jog your memory for prayer, study, and future conversations. It’s okay if there is not an immediate conversion (there probably will not be), but we can trust that God will work His perfect will in His way and time.
Let’s prayerfully consider how we can fulfill this calling whether we’re “full-time” missionaries or Christians living out our calling to proclaim the excellent mercies of God in and through Jesus Christ.
Shalom,
Pastor Peiser
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