“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”
Colossians 1:28
Before Fah Yong & I went to the mission field in 2011, God brought this verse to our mind when we were asked to select our life verse for missions. This verse taught us a few lessons:
WHO ARE WE PROCLAIMING?
We go to the mission field with the purpose of proclaiming Jesus Christ to all who are living and dying without the gospel. Jesus is the reason for our existence on earth. He is to take first place in our lives.
We are blessed to know Him, love Him, obey Him and serve Him! It is a privilege and not a burden to serve our Almighty God because He co-labours with us and promised to be with us. Hebrews 13:5b says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
WHAT ARE WE TO DO?
Our role as missionaries is to proclaim the Good News to pre-believers and when they received Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord, we are to admonish and teach them and help them in their spiritual journey with Christ. It is a rewarding process because some new believers are so eager to learn from the Word. Even though they are busy working adults or university students, they are regulars at our discipleship sessions. Heavy rain and cold winter nights did not deter them from coming to our home for bible study. It is our prayer that each one would be “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Psalm 1:3). It is our joy to “present everyone fully mature in Christ.” Even though we are back in Singapore, they continue to keep in touch with us through email and wechat.
HOW DO WE DO IT?
In my journey on earth, I never expect myself to be a missionary. I have been serving God in different ministries in church since I joined YCKC in 1978. Isn’t that enough God? Why call me into missions? God’s ways are not my ways! If He calls, I should respond like Isaiah, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8b). Being a servant of God is never about me using my own knowledge, training, experience and skills to serve Him. It is about God empowering me with His wisdom and Holy Spirit to do His work. I am just His humble vessel. I believe each of us will have a deeper and richer relationship with God when we are willing to step out of our comfort zone and take risks for Him. When we feel weak and inadequate, we claim this verse: “God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20). All glory, honour and praise to God for all that He has done in and through us.
CONCLUSION
Our lives is in God’s hands, His will and purpose for us is always good, pleasing and perfect. When God calls you to do His work, respond willingly. Trust and Obey!
By Josephine Yue (YCKC Bulletin 15&16 September 2018)