Every Single One

I've written about driving without maps. I've written about prioritizing people. I've written about praying for people you have never and may never meet this side of heaven. Now let's bring it all together!

According to the United Nations, in 2016 the world's population will reach 7.4 billion people. If you like to watch numbers flip around, you can check out the World Population Clock. At 10:20 on July 22, at the time of this writing, there are over 300 million people in the U.S., 7.3 billion in the world. Those are numbers I can't rightly comprehend.

And every single one is important to God. Every single one needs to hear the truth of the Gospel. Every single one.

Why is it important for us to be involved in foreign missions? First of all, God is a misisonary God. Jesus came to earth to spread the Good News -- to be the Good News, the fulfillment of prophecy -- but even before that, God chose Israel to stand at the crossroads of the ancient world to be a people that would draw other nations to God. God wants us to continue that program of sharing, as He stated in Isaiah 12:4-5: "In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world." And again in the Gospel of Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” It is important to God, so it must be important to us.

But you don't have to go halfway around the world to reach people that God loves.

Who are the people on your street? Eleanor is a sweet, old lady who lives caddy-corner to me; I wave when I drive by, and we neighbors keep an eye on her, although quite honestly she's ore mobile than I am! Talk to your neighbors and build relationships.

What about your co-workers? Even if you are in an environment where talking about God is discouraged, you can work with integrity and treat others with kindness. Let your actions shout the love of God!

We've seen a lot in the news lately: our communities are hemorrhaging. Our communities are attacking the people here to protect us. The first responders need our prayers, as do the communities in which we live.

Live the love of God. But always, without ceasing, pray.