This week I did a little spring cleaning in my office. As I was sifting through accumulated files and papers, I came across a collection of names of people who had expressed interest in mission service in 2010, 2011 and 2012. As I read through the names, I recalled the faces of a number of them and the many telephone calls and emails we had sent back and forth. These were people who had felt called to serve the unreached, but something had prevented them from continuing the journey to service.
I couldn’t just throw these precious names away, so I decided to offer the papers up to God as a burnt offering. Placing them in a box and taking them outside, I knelt and prayed, asking God to accept these names as a fragrant offering. Then I lit the pile on fire, trusting that He would call His servants into frontier mission service through His Holy Spirit. As the pages were slowly consumed, I interceded for these people.
One handwritten letter seemed to stand out from the others, so I plucked it out of the flames and set it aside.
As I watched the flames devour the pages, I thought of the unreached who might have been reached. Would they have responded to a loving invitation to meet Christ? Or would they, like these papers, someday be consumed in flames? Only in eternity will that be revealed.
After the flames went out, I covered the ashes and again bowed my head and prayed for those who were invited to serve and for the unreached who still haven’t received the Gospel.
Picking up the letter I had snatched out of the fire, I noticed it was dated 2010. I wondered if the person would even remember having an interest in mission service. I called the number on the letter, and a young lady answered the phone. I introduced myself and explained the purpose of my call. She was astounded, and so was I when she told me that, in her devotions that very morning, she had offered herself anew to Jesus for missionary service. Now, five years later, we have a mission call that she is uniquely qualified to fill! In a metaphorical sense, she is a “brand plucked from the fire.” God’s mercy and grace are absolutely incredible!
Perhaps at one point you expressed interest in mission service. Please consider this article your invitation to rediscover your calling. Our prayers ascend for you before God’s throne, that you might be a living offering of service on the mission frontiers.
