Copyright  ©  2014  Wildwood  Calvary  Chapel    Scripture  taken  from  the  New  King  James  Version.    Copyright  ©  1979,  1980,  1982  by  Thomas  Nelson,  Inc.    Used  by  permission.  All  rights  reserved.      

Whom Shall I Send?

“Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for You, Jesus, or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?” These lyrics from the Mercy Me song, “I Can Only Imagine” often echo in my mind. Scripture tells us that He came as a humble servant to suffer and die for our sins. But the next time we see Him face to face there will be no doubt in the minds of men about His awesome glory and power. And the question in my mind is, “How will I be able to respond?” Before His righteous judgment will I have any measure of confidence that I have fulfilled His instructions to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…”( Matt 28:19)? It is wonderful to live in the assurance of salvation now and a future in heaven, but am I doing my part? For many of us, these words of David Platt, author of Radical, resound, “Making disciples is not an easy process. It is trying. It is messy. It is slow, tedious, even painful at times. It is all these things because it is relational. Jesus has not given us an effortless step-by-step formula for impacting nations for his glory. He has given us people, and He has said, ‘Live for them, love them, serve them, and lead them. Lead them to follow me, and lead them to lead others to follow me. In the process you will multiply the gospel to the ends of the earth.’” The apostle Paul encouraged us with these words, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching (Heb 10:24-25).” Paul’s heaven-sent words are a twofold call to action. First, let us “consider one another.” The challenges and busy-ness that the enemy has artfully designed into today will invite us to focus on ourselves and our own circumstances. And second, we are to “stir up love and good works.” How do we do this? We must purpose in our hearts, by the empowering of the Holy Spirit, to meet the challenges of discipleship head on; to spend time with one another, to speak words of life, to lift up in prayer with the laying on of holy hands, to teach and hold one another accountable, and yes, even to correct biblically. Today may we lay down every inhibition about gathering together and may we choose, by God’s grace and with love for others to assemble ourselves together, as we see the Day approaching.  

   Robert  Watkins