It’s no secret that Christians are supposed to be “missional”. We read about it and talk about it and think about it. But many Christians aren’t personally convinced that they’re being it…and perhaps you are one of them. You’re not sure how to do it, or what it really means. You’d really like to be used by God, and to varying degrees you try, but you’re not sure if it’s actually happening. You wish God’s will was clearer, and you wish you had more evidence that you were truly in it. But, as it is, you’re not satisfied with your performance. You don’t feel too missional at all. And you don’t feel very radical either. And sometimes, you start wondering if you’re even being remotely biblical.

THE MOTIVE:

“A worker’s hunger drives him on” (Pr. 16:26)…

People naturally start to feel hungry when they don’t eat enough food. That’s usually how we know it’s time for supper. In the same way, Christians get famished when they lose sight of God’s will. They might stuff their lives with religious activities that look spiritually nutritious, but they’re left feeling empty anyway. The real “food” of a Christian is to “do the will of Him who sent us”, and some of you are getting hungry. In spite of the fact that you’re busy at church, and diligently reading your Bible, you feel a pang. Your appetite is growing, and becoming harder to ignore. You really, really want something to eat.

It’s no secret that Christians are supposed to be “missional”

Good intentions, however, as sincere they may be, won’t always get the job done. Countless men & women have discovered within themselves a strong desire to live an effective life in their community, yet go no further than that. People like this want the satisfaction of spiritual vitality, but they aren’t engaging their community unless it’s in a group setting, sanctioned by the church. They’d like to be an effective Christian witness, but they aren’t winning souls to Christ like other people seem to be. They want the fullness of a fruitful Christian life, but their branches are still barren.

THE MANDATE:

“Go! …I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say” (Ex.4:12)…

In most cases, the reason for spiritual malnourishment like this, is fear. A hunger-suppressing dread that helps people avoid the real meal, and still live with a relative amount of comfort. They aren’t as healthy or as happy as they could be, but they aren’t exactly dying either, and so their spiritual life remains the same: Humdrum & hollow.  

If you are apprehensive about sharing the truth with intimidating people, join the club. Moses did his best to avoid it (Ex.4:13), Jeremiah complained about it (Jer.20:7-8), and Paul asked for prayer on it (Eph.6:19). From beginning to end, the Kingdom of God has been stocked with people who are challenged by their charge. Being missional comes naturally to no one, but if you’re waiting for this to become easy, you’ll be waiting for a long time.    

THE MISSION:

“The fields are ripe…I sent you to reap” (Jn.4:38)…

In John 4 the Disciples had gone in to town for food, leaving Jesus behind at an isolated well. He’s all alone. There was little, if any opportunity whatsoever to be missional at that point. Until, of course, a spiritually destitute woman just-so-happens to show up. Jesus, not one to believe in ‘coincidence’, then commits a massive cultural faux pas, by initiating a conversation with that strange woman (a Samaritan nonetheless). Jewish norms forbade such interaction, but Jesus made the decision in that moment, to do “the will of God who sent Him” instead of abiding by man’s self-protective customs. God wanted Him to say something to that otherwise repulsive woman. So that’s what He did.

And, as you would’ve anticipated, things got painfully awkward.

The Disciples were rendered nearly speechless when they returned and saw what was going on. They did their best to reduce the inherent tension of Jesus-style evangelism by “urging Jesus to eat”. They just wanted to hurry things along so they could feel ordinary again. Jesus’ men wanted to get themselves out of the situation as fast as possible, because they couldn’t stomach the social pressure, and had no real appetite for that kind of work. They preferred to go hungry.

Sound familiar?

THE MEAL:

“Lift up your eyes and look” (Jn.4:35)…

If you’re feeling useless & unsettled about the contributions you’ve been making (or not making) to Jesus’ mission, you’ve got an important decision to make: Either ignore the conviction, or do something about it. I would encourage you to eat. Stop letting fear suppress your desire to engage the people around you in meaningful dialogue, and let yourself be fed by it. Even when there seems to be little, if any opportunity whatsoever to be missional, lift up your eyes and look. You’re not as alone as you might’ve thought, and it’s no coincidence that you are where you are.  

If there really is more work to be done in God’s Kingdom than there are workers to do it (Luke 10:2), it follows that God would gladly supply you with as much work as you have hours to fill (Matthew 20:1-7). It’s useless for us, like His Disciples, to try and get Jesus to quit forcing us into clumsy social situations. The awkwardness of Christian evangelism is the very food He’s urging us to eat.

So, how hungry are you?

“Blessed are those who are hungry…they will be filled”

Jesus has offered to share His “food” with anyone who’s willing to eat it. His style of mission & ministry might not be the most appetizing to your eyes, but there is nothing like it to so nourish your soul. If you’re feeling weak and unsatisfied in your spiritual performance, you need to dine with Him. A growling stomach won’t feed itself, but it’s usually enough to get something out of you, isn’t it?

The mission of God is, and always has been, for people like you and me to reach others with the truth. Those strange, repulsive, socially intimidating people that we’re surrounded by. You can share Jesus with anybody you want to…any time…any where…any one. Nothing will fill you up like that.

It’s time for supper. Let’s eat.

(Click here to watch an inspirational story about a Christian kid who was hungry for more, faced his fears, and was filled beyond measure for “doing the will of God who sent him”)