Missions Week Devotional by Barbara Baker
Good morning! Today we are blessed in 1 Corinthians 12:14-17:
For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
I Corinthians 12:14-17
A friend told me recently that the Lord was speaking to her, “Stay in your own lane.” She said that she was seeking clarification of which lane in ministry was truly hers. Swerving down the highway, changing lanes frequently and erratically is dangerous. Switching lanes in an intersection is against the law. Driving laws exist to protect and guide us for the good of all.
Seeking the Lord’s directions for which lane of ministry we are called to is critical for each of us and promotes strength within the body of Christ. As I have prayed into how this applies to missions, it seems clear that each of us has our own calling to share the truth and beauty of the Gospel.
Not everyone is called or destined to foreign missions or even short-term missions on our home soil. Praise God for believers who are compelled to reach out to those who have never heard or responded to the saving grace of our Lord. And praise God for those in our local congregations who pray for and support these precious souls in their callings abroad.
As our verses today tell us, it takes many parts to make up a fully functioning body. Perhaps we need to look at the word “missionary” in a broader sense of the word. The dictionary says a missionary is a person sent out on a religious mission. So, all of us, as we drive out of the church parking lot, are heading out on mission trips—to our unsaved family members, neighbors, workplaces, schools and even the person we find ourselves standing next to in a grocery line.
Opportunities for missions abound. Pressing into the Word and praying earnestly for guidance is our best plan for determining which lane of ministry is ours. A familiar verse, Jeremiah 29:11, tells us that God has a plan for each of us and it is for good. It’s so amazing how Father God weaves together all our callings for Kingdom glory!
Jesus loves you! Me, too!
Thoughts to Ponder and Pray About
- What lane has the Lord placed me in to serve as a witness of His Grace?
- Am I driving my own direction, following His directions, or just along for the ride?
- Lord, thank you for providing your Holy Spirit as my Global Positioning System! I can always rely on you for guidance and the words to share with others.