The Encouragement of Missions

What comes to mind when you think of missionaries you have helped send to the field and continue to support in prayer and in other ways? Your mind may run to their needs, your sorrow over missing them here, concerns you have for them, or even worry about their circumstances. Hopefully, however, your first thought is something like “How encouraging, Lord, it is to me that you have sent them there!” How can we condition our hearts to be encouraged at the first thought of those we’ve sent?

We can remember that the feet of those who carry good news are beautiful (Isaiah 52:7, Romans 10:15)! We can remember that the creation is rejoicing that God’s glory is being made known through those we’ve sent (Psalm 96). We can imagine the joy and freedom being experienced by our new brothers and sisters in the Lord in these lands, these new believers who know the Lord because of those who’ve been sent (Romans 8:1-4). We can call to mind that they are fulfilling the calling God has given us as a church (Matthew 28:18-20). We can envision the joy the angels are experiencing in what they see (Luke 15:10). We can anticipate life improvements among those they serve through works of mercy and the innovation and good order that faith in Jesus Christ motivates (Proverbs). We can rejoice that they are encouraging the saints where they are on our behalf (Colossians 4:8). We can delight that God is well pleased with their sacrifice of praise and their offerings of good works in service to others (Hebrews 13:15-16). We rejoice that heaven itself is being filled and that God is being glorified among all the nations (Psalm 98).

And to those of you who serve on the field? You should be encouraged that you are a massive encouragement to those in the body of Christ who have sent you. You should know that you are ministering to the rest of us and are making our joy full as we support you and importune the throne of grace on your behalf. We prayed the Lord would raise you up as laborers, and he has raised you up. Your labor motivates us in prayer, your boldness inspires us to greater courage, and your sacrifice calls us to lay down our lives for others as well. Praise God!