Why Missions?
Acts 16:1–10
Come over to Macedonia and help us. Acts 16:9
This call of God to Paul and his missionary team teaches some important lessons about missions. Why do we engage in world missions? There are a number of reasons.
1. Jesus Christ has told us to do it. We call this “The Great Commission,” and we find it five times in the New Testament—once in each of the four Gospels, toward the end, and once at the beginning of Acts. If God says something once, we should pay attention. If he repeats it, we should give rapt attention. How, then, if he says it three, four, five, or more times? Obviously, it is something we dare not overlook and to which we must give the most intent, sustained, and obedient scrutiny.
2. Christ’s love constrains us. Paul talks about this explicitly in 2 Corinthians 5:14, saying, “The love of Christ controls us.” It would be important for us to go into all the world with the gospel if for no other reason than Jesus has told us to do it. But it would be sad if the only motivation we had were mere obedience. Paul, who understood the marching orders of Jesus Christ, also understood the compulsion of Christ’s love, saying, “Christ’s love compels me.”
Christ’s love involves the love of Christ for the lost; he loves them. But it also involves our love, as the love of Christ works its way out through those who know him. Paul loved those to whom he was sent. So must we. In fact, there is nothing that so commends the gospel to the lost as love for them by the one who proclaims it.
3. The world is in need. The world is perishing in its sin apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it also has other needs—social and physical. I find it significant that it is largely in these terms that the call to come to Macedonia was given. “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” That is, we need help and you are the one who can help us.
I wonder if you have thought of your church’s missionary effort or your witnessing to a neighbor in those terms. You say, “It is difficult to witness today because so many people in our day don’t want the gospel.” That is true. They don’t. They very seldom do. Most people today are self-satisfied. They do not want anything that might upset their lifestyle. But if that is the case, why not refocus your witnessing for a time at least on those who are hurting and do have needs.
This is what life is about. It is about God’s calling out a people to himself, a people who will know him. His purpose for us is to assist in that great call and work.
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.