The Purpose of This Blog

In response to the challenge by the Southern Baptist Convention that churches take on the task to share the gospel with unengaged unreached people groups, the missions team of Harmony Pittsburg Baptist Association felt the need for a way to focus prayer on the task. This blog is intended to facilitate prayer for those contemplating their role in fulfilling the Great Commission. This on-line prayer guide may prove useful to those exploring a call to missions involvement as well as to those who have sensed a call to pray for those who will go to the front lines.

Friday, February 3, 2012

The Reluctant Missionary Part 5

"Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time ..." (Jonah 3:1 italics added)

I can't remember how many men I have counseled over the years who have told me that in their youth they sensed a call to ministry but for various reasons did something else.  It has been more than just a few.  All of them expressed regret, feeling that it was now too late.  My feeling in every case was that if the memory of the call still stirred them, then God was still calling them.  It is never too late to do the right thing.

It is true that some opportunities come only once.  When the children of Israel refused to enter the Promised Land the first time, Moses told them the consequences of their disobedience.  Then some of them said, "Well, if that's the case, then we will go up."  Moses warned them that God would not be with them.  They went up anyway and were defeated (Numbers 14).  In that case, failure was final, but God is more persistent than we might imagine.  He is patient, very patient.  An eternal perspective has that effect, I suppose.

After praying to get his heart right with God, Jonah heard from the Lord again.  The call was still there.  God had not changed his mind.  Jonah had not forfeited his opportunity.  He was being given a second chance to join God in His mission to the people of the world.  It was not too late.  When people have told me, "It's too late for me to be saved," I always tell them that if they are still bothered about their salvation, if it is still on their minds and hearts, then God is still wooing them.  If it were too late, they would not even think about it.  Our Lord is the God of the second chance.

Just as the call to salvation persists, so does the call to service.  If God is still putting a concern for the lost of the nations on our hearts, it is not too late to obey.  Our obedience may not look the same as it would have if we had responded earlier.  Those specific circumstances are gone forever.  But there is one thing that will be the same.  the first step will be the same as the one we could have and should have taken back then.  That step is to say yes.

Let's pray today that we will not let what might have been keep us from what can be.

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