Missions = courageous adventure?

I’m an overseas missionary because of a silly 8-year-old’s dreams.  My family read the biographies of Gladys Aylward, Amy Carmichael, David Livingston and Adoniram Judson to name a few. The stories were part of our homeschooling curriculum.  Stories have power. 

Amy was so daring that she dyed herself brown like the Indians she served and literally stole sex slaves from temples.  Gladys, living in China during World War 2, saved more than 100 children by walking for months to find refuge. She actually became a Chinese citizen and when she returned to England as an older woman found that she had forgotten English. 

What courage! What adventure! The eight-year-old in me wanted to do such great things for God.  I wanted such courage.

But, these are not great motivations for missions. 

I have found that pain and loss can drown courage and adventure.  Learning a new language doesn’t feel like you are going on a quest.  Often, in ministry, I am not fighting back the hordes of darkness in an epic battle.  No, often I’m fighting my own weakness, doubts and reminding myself that I need a Savior too.  There’s nothing adventurous about that.

As I was reading in John 6 today, I realized, I’m not alone.

After Jesus multiplied the loves and fish by the Sea of Galilee to feed more than 5,000 people, he traveled by boat and foot, across the sea to Capernaum.  People followed him there.  Jesus points out to them that they are only seeking the provision and the healing and not Jesus and the life he gives.

On the days that are full of loss and despair, I am part of this crowd.  I am desperate for the healing and provision of Jesus.  I want a miracle too.  Do I care about a friendship with Jesus?  Not really; only as long as I get what I need.

The people hearing Jesus disagree and say they want to do God’s work too. They want a missional adventure. Jesus served huge crowds with miraculous means and they wanted to do the same. Maybe they want to be like Moses and use God’s power to feed millions of people.  This looks like humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of the world. 

Oh, this is my eight-year-old self!  If we look deeply, we might find many ministries here too.

But, both of these groups are missing the point as did I.  Our most significant work is to believe and trust in Jesus and God’s provision is Jesus himself.  How often have I thought Christianity is simply obedience to God!  And how often have I sought God for what he gives, not simply to be closer to Jesus. My eight-year-old self sought God for his power to do great things.

We find life in Jesus, not simply power.  Jesus’s teaching for them is for us: seek Jesus.  This is God’s will, provision and work.  Missions is simply seeking Jesus together.