Downs and Ups
"… repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his
name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem." Luke 24:47

Amanda and Joe stood on their porch and waved goodbye to their new friends. "What a wonderful missionary couple," said Amanda. "I’m so happy they stayed the weekend with us."

Joe said nothing as his smile faded away. "Is something wrong?" she asked.
"Their stories of sharing the Gospel in Indonesia were so exciting, but
boy, am I deflated now."

"Why?"
"Thinking about missions always leaves me feeling down."

How about you? Are you up or down about playing your role in God’s global mission? Some Christians are up, but far too many feel like Joe. The reasons are many.

• The culture we live in considers Christian witness intolerant.
• The thousands of languages and cultures overwhelm us.
• Converting Muslims and Hindus seems impossible.
• We sometimes think it’s impossible to ever finish such a huge job.

Yes, the command to evangelize the world leaves some of us feeling guilty and depressed. What could possibly perk us up? How about mission promises?

Mission promises are Bible passages God uses to encourage us as we share the Gospel with others. Jesus referred to mission promises while talking with His disciples on Easter evening, and "he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45).

Want to have your mind opened too? Listen up. In Luke 24:46-47, our risen Lord teaches us through His Word:
"This is what is written:
The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
AND
repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached
in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem."

First, Jesus refers to the messianic prophecies He, the Messiah, had just fulfilled. Then, Jesus points them to another category of prophetic promises in the Bible—mission promises.

Just as the Old Testament foretold Christ’s birth (Micah 5:2), death (Ps. 22; Is. 53), and resurrection (Is. 25:6-9), so it also foretold that Christians would carry the Good News far and wide. Because the salvation to be won by the coming Messiah would be for all peoples, sometimes a passage contains elements of both messianic promise and mission promise, as in these familiar texts:

• Gen. 12:2-3: "I will make you [Abram] into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.… And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
  
• Is. 49:6: "I [the LORD] will also make you [Christ] a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."

How can such promises free you from the mission doldrums?

1. Mission promises point you to God’s heart. To proclaim Christ to all peoples has always been his plan.
2. Mission promises apply to you, because when the Holy Spirit brought you to faith, you became part of the fulfillment of God’s mission promises.
3. Mission promises point beyond you. God works in you to fulfill them again and again, whenever you witness and support cross-cultural evangelism.

Every week, this e-column will introduce you to more mission promises. Share them with others, so that both you and they may be up—not down—about God’s mission.

• In what ways have you experienced doubt, fear and disappointment about witnessing and mission work?
• God says to us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9). How does this verse encourage you in your efforts to bring the Gospel to others?

• Discuss this with your prayer group or with a Christian friend, "God has given us the honor of being part of the fulfillment of His mission prophecies in Gen. 12:3 and Is. 49:6."