When I was in third grade, my father set a seemingly impossible goal for me—to practice the piano 100 hours in a month’s time. If I succeeded, my family would get a color TV (I was not raised in an Adventist home). He thought he was pretty safe in that offer. However, I was highly motivated. Anytime I had a free minute, I would sit down at the piano and practice my lesson. A record sheet was kept at the piano so each session could be properly documented, and my mother had to initial each entry. There was no fooling my dad!
Oh, how badly I wanted that TV, and I sacrificed much to get it! My entire family, except my dad who had to pay for it, was so excited when a new color TV appeared in our home.
The older I get, the more I realize that other goals require the same determination, such as saying no to things that can sabotage my health, and saying yes to choices that help me reach my objectives. Whether it’s living a healthy lifestyle with good food choices and exercise or taking time for relationships, every moment I need to keep my end goal in mind, or the evil one will derail me.

The same is true spiritually. I hear many people saying, “I so want the Lord to return soon!” But how badly do you want it? Jesus says, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14).

In order for Jesus to return, the gospel needs to be preached in all the world. We still have a work to do! How willing are we to do whatever it takes to share Him with the unreached? Every day, Christians around the world suffer for their beliefs, even to the point of martyrdom. Yet in our relative comfort, it’s so easy to become self-absorbed with our lives. However, Christ gave us a mission that still calls us today.

Do you want Jesus to return soon? If so, then make it your primary goal. Don’t be distracted. Pray. Give. Go.

Pray for the unreached.
Claim scripture promises about spreading the Gospel.
Dedicate your work and workplace to God.
Pray for specific people mentioned in this magazine.
Pray for missionaries.

Go to afmonline.org/content/resources/Prayer_brochure.pdf to download a prayer brochure.

Give of your time and resources to reach people.
Step outside your comfort zone and become involved with refugee families.
Ask God for opportunities to share Jesus.
Financially support missionaries who work in unreached areas and among unreached people groups.

Go as God calls you.
Now is not the time to fear, but to step out in faith. A few chosen men and women in the early church turned the world upside down with God’s message.
As you experience God’s grace, you will not be able to contain the love God pours on you. You can’t help but share it!

“After the descent of the Holy Spirit, when the disciples went forth to proclaim a living Savior, their one desire was the salvation of souls. They rejoiced in the sweetness of communion with saints. They were tender, thoughtful, self-denying, willing to make any sacrifice for the truth’s sake. In their daily association with one another, they revealed the love that Christ had enjoined upon them. By unselfish words and deeds they strove to kindle this love in other hearts” (AA 547).

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