Mission Heart of the Church
Dr. John K. Mathew
Acts chapter 14, begins with Paul's mission work in the city of Iconium. There Paul and Barnabas spoke effectively and many Jews and Greeks believed But the unbelieving Jews stirred up hatred and opposition but the missionaries, stayed on and witnessed boldly for Christ.
God also enabled the men to perform signs and wonders so that the people could believe that these men were servants of the true God. From there they moved to Lystra and Derbe. There they faced indescribable trouble and persecution and Paul was almost dead.
The mission has its challenges, but Christianity is not a movement finished because of opposition. The history of Christianity proves that it grew and thrived despite all troubles. The mission is the heart of the church and every born-again believer. Because the first message of the birth of Christ was a missionary message. It reads, 'But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people" (Luke 2:10) The first prayer Jesus taught was a missionary prayer (Matt. 6:10). The first disciple Andrew was a missionary. Not only that the last wish of our Lord Jesus Christ was a missionary wish as we see in the last lines of the Gospel of Matthew. "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit." Yes, the mission is a mandate for all of us.
A missionary in Africa was once asked if he liked what he was doing. His response was shocking. "Do I like this work?" He said, "No my wife and I do not like dirt. We have reasonably refined sensibilities. We do not like crawling into vile huts through goat refuse ..."
But is a man to do nothing for Christ he does not like? God pity him, if not liking or disliking has nothing to do with it. We have orders to 'Go' and we Go, Love constrains us.
People all around the globe wait for the good news. We must Go.
