MISSION AND MISSIONARY
Today's reading: 2 Thessalonians
"Finally, dear brothers and sisters, I ask you to pray for us. Pray first that the Lord's message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be saved from wicked and evil people, for not everyone believes in the Lord." 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 NLT
Paul, Silas and Timothy were out and about doing the Lord's work.
They traveled from town to town, telling the Good News of the resurrected Savior.
As they moved from house-church to house-church, they asked for the folks in each body of believers to pray for them, this time the church at Thessalonica.
But what I notice about the prayer is the order...
Firstly, Paul asks that the Lord's message be spread.
Secondly, Paul asks that they be kept safe as they spread that important message.
What an example for us!
If each and every morning I were to ask God to--
1. Use me to spread the Good News about Him to the world.
2. Keep me safe from the struggles and trials of spreading that word.
To be honest, I usually get the two needs in reverse...I'm more concerned with my comfort, safety and acceptance than I am about the message reaching the mission field He has set me on.
That changes today.
Use, me Lord, to tell the world about You. And then, only then, keep me safe as I do it.
It's a matter of what's more important, you see...the mission or the missionary!
