Down Payment
When you return from a mission trip, what do you normally do? Most people are so excited to share all the details of their trip. I usually will hear one of two things from folks who have served overseas.
Most of the time I hear, “Oh, let me tell you about my exciting trip to Africa!” Sometimes, though, I hear, “Let me tell you about some of my new friends who live in the Congo and how we can work together to serve Jesus Christ in that part of the world.” Guess which one I find more appealing!
If all you do is talk about your trip to Africa, then nothing is going to change. However, if you join your heart and soul with the folks you meet around the world and you let them be a burden of hope on your heart, that will motivate you to tell their story instead of your own. People will be moved to respond and join you in playing a part in changing the lives of folks around the world for the Kingdom of God.
Born within every person is a spirit that longs for relationship with God. That longing and void in our lives is never satisfied until we accept Christ as our Savior. Even so, our joy is not complete until we are fully united with Christ in heaven. When we travel overseas on a mission trip, we have the opportunity to explain to those who do not know Christ, how they can satisfy the longing of their souls. You can also tell them about the down payment given to us by God, found in 2 Corinthians 5:4-5 (Amplified):
“For while we are still in this tent, we groan under the burden and sigh deeply (weighed down, depressed, oppressed)–not that we want to put off the body (the clothing of the spirit), but rather that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal (our dying body) may be swallowed up by life [after the resurrection]. Now He Who has fashioned us [preparing and making us fit] for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the [Holy] Spirit as a guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise].”
The Holy Spirit is our wonderful guarantee that Christ will indeed return for His children.
