Author: Dave Dishman (Page 409 of 475)

“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:4-5, English Standard Version).

Today is the time to go. Now. In fact, there’s never been a better time in history. Travel is easier than ever, even if airline seats are smaller than ever. With a few notable exceptions, the world is open like never before. Communication is unmatched. Find yourself in Africa and need to touch base with someone in Europe? No problem, you can email, phone, text, video call or chat online. You can even send a letter the old-fashioned way. Lost in a city? Relax, just get on your smartphone and download directions. Want to share a passage of scripture with an interested person but cannot carry a Bible? No worries, just show them the text, in their own language, on your phone.

It’s been said that history runs in cycles. Countries that are open to the gospel today will be closed tomorrow. Seemingly impossible barriers, like the Iron Curtain separating Eastern Europe from Western Europe, fall overnight. Our role is to go. We go where we can and we pray for doors to open into places we cannot. How long will our current era of openness last? We don’t know, but we do know that we must go while we are able.

You may say, “I’ll go once I’ve completed my internship”, or “I’ll go when my relationship status changes.” Or maybe you’re concerned about your career being adversely affected by serving as a missionary overseas. Other barriers like finances or parental approval might feel insurmountable. There will always be reasons why “now” might not feel like the right time to go. But what if God is calling you to go now?

As you finish these weeks of reading, consider these questions. Will you consider going somewhere in the world to share God’s love with lost people? Are you willing to put certain life and career goals on hold if that is what God is calling you to do? Pray that no barriers stand in your way as you follow God’s calling on your life. Finally, as you’ve done each day, pray for courage to follow wherever the Lord may lead.

If you are interested in checking out a mission trip right now, you can see the variety of trips offered by Cru at: cru.org/opportunities.

If you’d like to read more, you can order my book, GO: Following Jesus to the Ends of the Earth.

A leper came to him, begging on his knees, “If you want to, you can cleanse me.” Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to. Be clean.” Then and there the leprosy was gone, his skin smooth and healthy. Jesus dismissed him with strict orders: “Say nothing to anyone. Take the offering for cleansing that Moses prescribed and present yourself to the priest. This will validate your healing to the people.” But as soon as the man was out of earshot, he told everyone he met what had happened, spreading the news all over town. So Jesus kept to out-of-the-way places, no longer able to move freely in and out of the city. But people found him, and came from all over (Mark 1:40-45, The Message).

A man with leprosy approached Jesus and begged to be healed. He was desperate, in pain, and shunned by society. Meanwhile, the people around Jesus pulled back in fear and revulsion. They did not want to be close to the diseased man and they certainly did not want to catch leprosy. They harbored the thought that this man must have done something wrong, some sort of heinous sin, to deserve this fate.

Jesus, however, responded differently. Moved by compassion, Jesus reached out and touched the leper! No one touched a leper, but Jesus did. How long since this man had experienced human touch? How long since someone looked at him with anything besides fear and disgust before quickly slipping away?

Picture this scene. When Jesus touched this man, it probably was not just a poke. Jesus reached out, gently held the pus-filled sores and made the man whole. Imagine what it felt like for the leper as his body was knit back together. Could he feel the sickness leaving? Did it hurt? Itch? Did it happen in an instant or in a few minutes? Did Jesus smile as he touched this man? Or did Jesus laugh as he watched surprise and joy spread across the man’s face?

The leper, now whole and overjoyed, completely disobeyed Jesus’ instructions to keep this incident quiet. He told everyone about the touch of Jesus. Don’t you love that part of the story? It was too astounding to keep to himself. This story is told to us in just a few lines, but the leper told his story to all who would listen for the rest of his life. Such are those who’ve experienced the touch of Jesus. As we go to the world, we take the touch of Jesus with us. We go to people desperate for care and compassion. Jesus described the lost, and we were once lost, as “sheep without a shepherd.” Shouldn’t we be involved in bringing people the touch of Jesus, to introduce them to the good shepherd?

Have you experienced the touch of Jesus in your life? How have you seen Jesus as your shepherd? Where can you go and help introduce a lost world to the touch of Jesus? As you consider these questions, pray for courage to follow wherever the Lord may lead.