I Saw a Mission Field

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

It was a beautiful warm late mid-May afternoon.  I was sitting in my chair on my back patio as the aroma of hamburgers on the grill surrounded me.  I was enjoying the mixture of smells and sounds of that spring day.  The fresh cut grass, the grill, the flowers, the birds sweetly chirping, the crowd at the youth baseball game and the laughing children on the playground all played a melody on my senses that day.  As I took in the view, I saw it.  Any other person would have seen the same thing I saw and say that it was just a group of children playing on the swings, playing king of the hill on the dirt pile, or just a few parents watching their child play a rousing game of baseball.  I saw something different.  I saw a mission field.  As I watched the children scurry from slide to swing to seesaw and the parents loudly cheering for their child’s swing of the bat or an exciting catch of a fly ball in the outfield, my mind pondered the words of Jesus to His disciples just prior to His ascension in Acts 1:7.  He said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  I quickly got up to grab my Bible and read the words with interest.  I looked back at the group of people and realized the task that I had as an ambassador of His kingdom. 

We first find that we must be a witness locally (Jerusalem).  The town I live in is a small town.  We have one bank, one gas station, and the city hall, police department, and the local library share one building.  Yet despite the fact that the town is small, the opportunity to witness is tremendous.  It does not matter what size town you live in, the opportunity you have to be a witness is tremendous.  There will always be someone who needs to come into contact with the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  There are people who are hurting, yet you can be the one to share with them the marvelous grace of God and how He has helped you endure the trials and difficult circumstances you have faced.  There are people who are seeking answers and you have access to one of the greatest help books ever in the Word of God that can provide the answers they seek.  Be witnesses where you are planted. I once came across a picture of a beautiful single flower growing in a vast desolate desert.  The captioning on the bottom read “Bloom where you are planted.”  The mission field first begins at home.

Secondly we find we must be a witness regionally (Judea).  As I reflected on that, my mind began to think of the county I live in.  The more I thought of that, the more I wondered how could this apply to me.  Then I thought of my workplace.  The place I work is not in this town but in another town in the same county.  It is there I must continue to witness.  I have listened to countless souls describe the problems they are facing.  People who work there also know the testimony of my faith and my unwavering commitment to God and His word and His church.  I must continue to be a witness. 

Third, we see that me must witness nationally (Samaria).  The opportunity to witness goes even further than our backyard.  Does this mean we must pack up our belongings and move to a different part of the country?  Only if God wills it.  If it is not God’s will, how can we be a witness?  Have you thought of churches which have been planted in a new area that could use your prayer or financial support.  Be a witness. 

Fourth, we must be a witness to the world (and to the end of the earth).  God bless the men and women who have left their culture and their home to venture into an unknown land and culture to share God’s love to the people of that land.  They need our help.  They need our prayers.  They need our witness. 

Before I could think about the world, I had to think about those children and parents at the park behind my home.  My heart became burdened.  I realized my duty and my task.  All because I saw a mission field.