I is for INTENTIONAL

Yesterday we learned that M is for Mandate – telling people about Jesus is Mandated.

“I” is for INTENTIONAL. Today as we consider mission I would like to suggest that our mission should be intentional. I don’t know if you are like me, but I plan things out – at least in my head. It may not look like it sometimes but there is usually some intentionality in everything I do. Mission and reaching this city for Jesus should be no different. As we prepare for StreetReach we are intentionally targeting one location in Bowie – the Pointer Ridge Section. We are intentionally developing postcards and other ‘give-aways’ that have our message on them and we can give out at events. We have intentionally identified events that we can meet lots of people – the parade, Bowiefest, a table on the concourse at a Baysox home game, June 13th Saturday StreetReach prayer walk and leaflet distribution in the Pointer Ridge section of the city.

Jesus gave the disciples some intentionality in their mission – they were told in Matthew 28:18-20 to go into all the world to make disciples, to baptize people and to teach them everything they had learned from Him – all because Jesus had all the authority and was empowering them with that same authority. In Acts 1:8 they were told to start their mission in Jerusalem, then to move outwards until they reached the whole world.

Jesus wants you to be intentional about your mission field too. Do you have one colleague who is on your heart more than others? Have you been praying for a family member more frequently recently? Maybe that person is who God wants you to focus your effort on at this time – to be intentional about reaching out to. As a 15yr old kid I had a friend who lost his hair because of alopecia (stress over his parent’s divorce). At the age of 15 my friend was bald except for 3 strands of hair. I became intentional about reaching him. I started to pray every night, some time during February, and asked God that by December 31st he would have restored my friend’s hair. For weeks and months I prayed alone each night – the same thing, the same prayer. For that year, that was my mission. As weeks became months my determination to pray intensified. My mom even told him that I was praying for him – I must admit, that was a little embarrassing.

By January 1st guess what had happened?

Just something to think about as you go about your day today.