At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, many people followed Him. Crowds would gather and listen to His teachings. His disciples witnessed His miracles and learned from His words. Then, Jesus gathered 12 of these disciples and said, “‘I am sending you out … (Matthew 10:16).’” Their first mission was to go to their own people. But eventually, Jesus sent them into the world to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20).
For these early followers, it was easy to determine what Jesus was calling them to do. He was there in the flesh when He told them to go. For believers today, how can we know if Jesus is sending us to the nations?
Lessons From Jonah
While not every believer is called to be a missionary, some are. The calling is clear for some because they feel the tug on their heart and the desire to make disciples around the world. But this isn’t the case for everyone.
Just look at the prophet Jonah. God told him to go to Nineveh and preach against it. Bible commentators note that the Ninevites were likely an unreached people group; they probably didn’t have access to God’s law. The Lord wanted Jonah to be a witness among them, but Jonah didn’t want to go. He even tried to run away from what God called him to do (which didn’t work out well for him).
Some believers don’t have warm fuzzy feelings when it comes to missions, especially at the notion of going to a different country to share the gospel. Many may take this as a sign that they’re not called to go to the nations. But as we know from Jonah’s story, that isn’t necessarily the case. Even if you don’t feel the desire to go to the ends of the Earth, God may still call you to go. Others simply don’t know if that’s what God wants them to do, and they don’t know how to discern this.
Seeking Guidance From God
If you’re not sure what role God has for you in the Great Commission, the first thing you should do is ask Him. When was the last time you asked God, “Do You want me to go to the nations?” Many people are afraid to ask God this question because they’re scared He will say, “Yes.” If that’s you, talk to Him about it. Explain your fears and concerns because He cares about you (1 Peter 5:7).
As you turn to God for direction, keep in mind what Jesus told the disciples when He gave the Great Commission.
“‘And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” -Matthew 28:20b
No matter what fears and risks cross your mind, remember that Jesus is with you. He is the one who carries and sustains His followers in the most difficult tasks.
As you listen and wait for God’s response, here is something to think about: A lot of believers assume God is not calling them to the nations until He says, “Go.” But perhaps you should assume that God is calling you to the nations until He says, “No.”
The Apostle Paul operated with this mindset. In Acts 16, Paul and his companions tried to preach the Word in Asia and Bithynia, but the Holy Spirit prevented them from doing so. It may seem strange that the Holy Spirit did this when Jesus called believers to make disciples of all nations. But the Lord had a plan. Paul continued assuming that he should persist in his missionary task, and the Lord allowed him to go to Macedonia. There, he met a woman named Lydia, who listened to Paul and gladly accepted the gospel.
If the global Church operated under the mentality of going until God says otherwise, imagine all the places the gospel could reach where Jesus is unknown.
Whatever the Lord calls you to do, know that you have a role to play in making disciples of all nations.
