Burdened?

Papouasie Baliem Valley By Lasthib - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

More thoughts brought on by yesterday’s post. I wrote of burdens, beliefs and buying into obedience

I’m thinking now of missionaries in Papua New Guinea. To see their photos and read their Facebook posts (what a blessing to be able to use these!), it would seem they picked up heavy burdens, not lightening their load. Unsubstantial housing, limited access to medical supplies, multiple flights and long hikes to reach a city and return to their clinic. A community lacking clean water, sustaining food supplies, restful shelter, and government capable of infrastructure.

You cannot match them for smiles, love, and prayers. They exchanged the burdens of modern life for God’s lighter burden of love. The labor they do is described by Jesus as so much better than Micah 6:7, with wonderful results:

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40 KJV)

Please read the entire parable – Matthew 25:31-46 – because there are divisions that will be made:

And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (Matthew 25:32-34 KJV)

But, those words will not be for all the gathered nations. Some will hear:

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
(Matthew 25:41 KJV)

The choice belongs to every man. It is the same choice given to the people of Israel millennia ago:

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15 KJV)

The photo above from Wikimedia Commons only represents the area where our missionaries serve our Lord in a medical clinic. They treat every community member the same, whether a minor scrape or a serious injury. That’s their obedience to our Lord’s calling. They live their choice to follow God every single day in their service to the people around them.

It’s not necessary to go far away from our own culture. Jesus gave His Great Commission:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)

And a departing instruction:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8 KJV)

Seek His will in your own life for the place God will use you best. Be the witness locally, where people know you or they don’t, as far as His word will take you. God will bless your service in His name.