7 Moorings in the Journey
Sometimes the first steps of a journey are the most allusive, whether you are following Jesus as Savior and Lord, or exploring His call to become a missionary. How do you respond when you sense God’s Spirit moving in your life? How do you respond with steps of obedience?
Seven simple steps will help you as you begin your journey.
1. SEEK God’s purpose in scripture – “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jer 29:13) Your relationship with Jesus is the primary beginning place. Are you in a daily intimate relationship with Jesus and listening for promptings to join Him? You must fill up with the Spirit so that you can pour out to others.
2. CONNECT to meaningful discipleship relationships – Are you in a community of Jesus followers who are seeking to do what He did and even greater things? “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do…,” John 14:12 The process of sharing your faith, confessing sin, being challenged, and accountability will mature you as a follower.
3. SERVE others using your unique gifts. “Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God provides.” 1 Peter 4:10 Discover your gifts by meeting needs around you. Gifts are given for sharing, not hoarding.
4. INVITE others to join you in the journey. Never do anything alone, take someone with you. Don’t miss the opportunity to model and give others the experience of relying on the power of the Spirit to work through them.
5. INVEST deeply in others and develop partners both at home and abroad. We are to be the body of Christ to the world, and we are each a member of the body with different roles. “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,…” Rom 12:4
6. DEVELOP a learning posture toward God and His love for all people. Integrate all you learn, be authentic and present. Be a life-long learner of Christ. This is the meaning of the word disciple. Make connections and follow Christ wherever He leads. “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” Heb 13:7
7. COMMIT to reproducing this cultivated lifestyle in others. Find joy in seeing God’s fruitfulness accomplished in others, become a harvester of souls and a worker for the harvest. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24
Join a cohort of faithful followers –
Take a culture immersion short term trip –
Begin a dialog with GlobalGrace about serving overseas –
Jim S is on the staff of GlobalGrace