When we consider what is going on around us — the economic situation in the U.S., the worldwide financial crisis with its many unknowns, and the rise in cost of living and goods around the world — we can get discouraged and start wondering if there is any hope in reaching our world for Christ. Do we have what it takes to stay with it or will we just give in? Well, let’s take to heart Paul’s advice to the Philippians “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). We must stay on the task of sharing the gospel around the world by looking at our world and seeing the great harvest and looking at ourselves and seeing what we can do with God’s help to accomplish the task!

When you look and see the world, do you see it the way God sees it? God has so much compassion for it that He gave His only Son to die for the world. Now that is unbelievable love and compassion! He saw them as sheep having no shepherd, in the dark, without direction, lost in their sins.

What about the ripe harvest? People are searching for truth and are trying everything they can to find that peace and fill that emptiness. You need to look around at the harvest and respond as Paul told the Philippians. They didn’t wait for someone else to do the job or be the answer — they responded on their own. They gave and continued to give without hesitation. “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only” (Philippians 4:10, 15). As we see the harvest, we cannot afford to wait. We need to respond by going and giving so others may go to the regions beyond.

Then, have you taken a look at yourself? Have you considered what it is that is keeping you from participating in missions? Is there something other than Christ that you are putting first? The evangelization of the world is not a spectator activity. It takes everyone doing his or her part, giving every bit of energy, ability, and commitment. Sure, you might feel afraid, unsure, unable, even weak. Remember what Paul told the Philippians in 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Finally, look to the Lord. Paul reminded the Philippians to remember all that God had done for them and how it is God who will supply and sustain them. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). May we consider His riches that He uses to supply our needs — all through His Son Jesus Christ. Isn’t our God good? We can rejoice over what God has done through the churches and missionaries of the BBFI and join right in with Him.

Jeanne Hendricks wrote in her book Afternoon :
Living is not a spectator sport. No one, at any price, is privileged to sit in the stands and watch from a distance. Being born means being a participant in the arena of life, where opposition is fierce and winning comes only to those who exert every ounce of energy.
So it is with world evangelization. The choice is yours. My hope is that you, like the Philippians with Paul, will choose to get involved in missions and do all you can to spread the gospel around the world.

– Jon Konnerup | BBFI Mission director | Baptist Bible Tribune, January 2009