POINT TO PONDER: The Great Commission is my commission.
REFLECT: How did today's reading impact you?
You and I have a choice to make. You will either be a world-class Christian, or a worldly Christian. A world-class Christian knows that they were saved on purpose, shaped to serve, and made for a mission. They wake up each morning expecting God to work through them in fresh ways.
Worldly Christians look to God primarily for personal fulfillment. They are saved but self-centered. How can God make my life more comfortable? They want to use God for their purposes, instead of being used for His purposes. Which type of Christian do you want to be? 
       "Send us around the world with the news of Your saving power and
   Your eternal power for all mankind." (Psalms 67:2 Living Bible)

       "Jesus said to His followers, 'Go everywhere in the world,
   and tell the Good News to everyone'." (Mark 16:15 NCV)
This is an amazing time we live in. It is a small world, and it's shrinking daily. I was sipping coffee at work, watching the war briefing for Qatar the other day, how weird is that? Now, with the Internet, the world has gotten even smaller. We even had someone from Turkey contact the CBF website for a Bible, how cool is that? The opportunities for normal, everyday Christians to become involved in short-term interenational missions are now literally limitless.
How can I become a World-class Christian? The great barriers are no longer distance, cost, or transportation. The only barrier is how we think- our perspective and attitude must change....
  1. Shift from self-centered thinking to other centered thinking.
    2. Begin asking the Holy Spirit to help you to think of the spiritual need of unbelievers whenever you talk with them. "Father, help me to understand what is keeping this person from knowing You." Your goal is to figure out where others are in their spiritual journey and then do whatever will bring them one step closer to knowing Christ.
  2. Shift from local thinking to global thinking.
    3. Begin thikning globally in your prayer life- begin praying for specific people and countries. Prayer is the most important tool for our mission in the world. People may refuse our love or reject our message, but they are defenseless against our prayers. Another way to develop global thinking is to read and watch the news with "Great Commission eyes". When there is conflict, calamity, need, God is there. People are most receptive to God when they are in transition or under tenssion. But the best way to switch to global thinking is to just go do it. Plan in the next year to go on a short term missions trip. I went to Colombia, South America in June 1988, and I will never be the same. And that was a key part of our adoption story. Four people went on short term trips last year (Jason, Sanjeev, Melissa, and Stephanie). Jim and Judy Mayer are in Uruguay right now. Shannon is in Hong Kong, Jake Finn is in Mexico. The Tibet Team leaves in less than two months! I urge you to save up, and do whatever it takes to participate in a short-term mission trip as soon as possible. It will enlarge your heart, expand your vision, stretch your faith, deepen your compassion-- it could change your life.
  3. Shift from "here and now" thinking to eternal thinking.
    4. We must maintain an eternal perspective. So much of what we waste our energy on will not matter even a year from now, much less for eternity. This will keep you from majoring on minor issues and help you distinquish between what's "urgent" and what's "important". What are you allowing to stand in the way of you and your mission?
  4. Shift from thinking of excuses to thinking of creative ways to fulfill your mission.
    5. "I only speak English. I dont have anything to offer? I am too (fill in the blanks -old, young, new christian, busy, afraid. etc). "Don't say that', the Lord replied, 'for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with You and take care of you." (God's word to Jeremiah, Jeremiah 1:7-8)

If you want to be like Jesus, you must have a heart for the whole world. There are over 6 Billion people on earth, and Jesus wants all of His lost children found. Why not ask God where He would have you serve. The Great Commission is my commission - your commission, and doing your part is the secret to living a life of significance.
PRAYER:
"Gracious Father, thank You for putting me in this world at this amazing time. Please help me to have your heart for the world. I accept Your Great Commission as my commission. Here am I, send me. Amen
FOR MY CONSIDERATION:
    If you were to go an a short-term missions trip, where do you think God would have you go, and what would He ask you to do? What is the first step you could do to prepare for a short-term missions experience in the next year? What excuses have you used to hinder you from fulfilling your mission?
This week's Memory verse: 
 	“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every 
	opportunity.”   Colossians 4:5 (NIV)
CBF Home How can we help you in this journey? Please let us know
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