Galatians
2:7-9 On
the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the
uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised…
they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas
and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
Mission work is directed
towards people, not nations. Paul and Peter were focused on a specific group of
people. The Jews of their day were scattered throughout the known world. The
“circumcised” is their way of identifying the Jews. The term “gentile” refers
to all people who were not of the Jewish faith. Although we speak of sending
missionaries to specific countries, we are really speaking of sending
missionaries to specific groups of people. Culture and ethnicity vary within
countries.
The work of missions is to
share the good news of Jesus Christ. The Gospel message is one of forgiveness
of sins from the sacrificial death of Christ and his resurrection is proof of
this reality. Such a ministry has been entrusted to each Christian. All of us
are equipped by our faith in Christ to share the gospel. Many people seem
shocked by this, but it is God’s plan for His people. Because God has done a
good work in us by gifting us with faith we are to share this with the world
around us.
Ministry is confirmed for
each of us by other believers. There are no “lone rangers” when it comes to our
work of sharing the gospel. The Church exists to confirm the faith and the work
of the Holy Spirit in us. Paul went to the Church and they confirmed his faith
and affirmed his God given desire to share the Good News with the gentile
people of his day.
Accountability for
the believer is integral to being called by God and sent by the Church. Without
such oversight, the message and the messenger may be false. As ministers of the
Gospel, ambassadors for Christ, we will be held to a higher degree of accountability
by God and by His Church. May you find both the Church and the Holy Spirit
giving you confirmation of your ministry to the least and the lost among us.
