Monday, July 11, 2011

Missions R Us

Marsha and I passed by the Toy's R Us store a few days ago and had one of those melancholy moments of midlife. We realized it had been years since we had made the journey down those hallowed aisles. Years ago we started buying diapers and formula there – at that time they had the cheapest in town, if you bought in bulk. And we needed bulk.
Then there were the years of toys, beginning on the preschool aisle and working our way through to the “big kid” toys. I liked all of them, especially when the had the occasional sample out to try. My daughters used to have to drag me out of the store. “Mom, would you tell dad to stop playing with everything. We are ready to go home!”
Then suddenly we stopped going. The girls didn't pester us for the latest toy, I stopped looking for toy coupons in the Sunday paper, and the mall became a more likely destination. To be honest, I didn't notice. We just moved on in our life.
Sometimes that happens with missions. We hear the story of a missionary or mission and get excited about the possibilities. We give, we pray, we go. . . and suddenly we don't. It doesn't happen all at once. Other activities begin to call us away and suddenly weeks go by we don't think about missions at all.
That can't happen. We are a mission people. It is our calling. Missions R Us. Pray that we will always be faithful to our Lord's command:

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.