The Sent Ones

As Christians, we are sent people. When you follow Jesus, people you love will often be sent away from you. We are sent out into the world as Christ's ambassadors.

The Sent Ones

This week's devotions are written by my friend Jessica Hermann, former director of our college ministry at Great Hills Baptist Church.

- Pastor Danny

This week we are looking at the people Paul mentions in his final words of 2 Timothy 4.

One thing that stands out to me as I read these closing words of Paul in 2 Timothy 4 is how wide his network was. He listed so many people who he had labored alongside and often shared where they were at the time of his writing. Crescents went to Galatia, Titus was in Dalmatia, Tychicus was sent to Ephesus, Carpus was in Troas, Prisca and Aquila were in Ephesus with Onesiphorus, and so on and so forth.

In John 17, as part of Jesus's "High Priestly Prayer," Jesus prayed for His disciples. He said:

"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." (John 17:15-18)

As Christians, we live as sent people. When you follow Jesus, people you love will often be sent away from you. We are sent out into the world as Christ's ambassadors to share His Gospel far and wide and here and there. Maybe you'll be called to stay. Maybe you'll be called to go. Maybe someone you love will be called elsewhere. Sometimes, this can sting. I know this feeling well. These are challenging and sad moments for us, but hopefully, in God's grace, they are more bittersweet than pure bitter. We are sad at their leaving because we love each other, but we are joyful knowing they are being sent to be a blessing and bring the Gospel elsewhere. Let us joyfully send the people we love and have served with, knowing that they will take the Gospel message with them.

When I think about the people I served with in various ministries in my college days, so many of them now are serving all around the world: Bolivia, Morocco, Thailand, Japan, France, China, and so on. And here I am in Germany. There is sorrow that comes with being far away from those you love and have served with, whether you have sent them out or you have been sent out yourself. However, all earthly sorrow is temporary, and is nothing compared to the joy we will all experience when we are all reunited one day in heaven, alongside people of many nations and peoples that we have had the chance to bring to the Lord.

Is the Lord calling you or someone close to you to step out and be sent to a new place? They are not abandoning you. You are not abandoning them. Remember, dear Christian, we are all on-mission. God didn't sweep you up to heaven the second you believed in His name. He left you here to be a messenger and a disciple maker. Don't lose sight of the mission by trying to hold on too tightly to what is comfortable and familiar.

Community is an important part of the Christian life. Often, however, we hold too tightly to the people around us. Of course it is difficult to say those temporary goodbyes to those we love, but would you be so bold today to pray and ask God to send some of those around you out to be a blessing in a new place? Would you pray and ask God if He might be sending you to be a blessing in a new place? At the end of the day, may we be faithful wherever God has placed us and hold everything we have, even precious relationships, with an open hand.