The time is NOW!

Phil Malcolm, a missionary coordinating ministry to Africa's Children, laid out numbers that boggle the mind. There are 500 million kids in Africa, 90% of whom live in abject poverty, illiterate, without access to healthcare, and often victims of the violence of war. The challenges to Christian ministry on that continent are huge. One man raised his hand and asked, "How can you do it? Don't you get overwhelmed by the needs confronting you?" Phil acknowledged that sometimes discouragement does come his way, but he chooses to look at the face of the one child in front of him that he can reach today!

What can you do for the Lord today? If we think about trying to change the world, feed all the hungry, comfort every sad person, bring the Gospel to the millions who do not really know Christ - we will most likely do nothing. Our mind just will not be able to wrap around the need or find a solution. The Word tells us to "Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do." (Ephesians 5:16-17, NLT)  

Serve the one person standing in front of you. Love the one person that stands nearest to you. Find a way to act in the place where you are in life right now. We are all tempted to wait until another day to join some grand scheme, to look for that ministry that really excites us, before we get our hands dirty. And, we wait, and wait, and wait... while life passes us by and Hell celebrates our inaction.

Phil also mentioned that there are some who come to Africa, make a lot of noise, and then go home. They find that Africa's needs cannot be met in a month, that some of her challenges are so rooted, that they simply do not visibly yield to the solutions offered up. We love results so much, he observed, that we just will not stick with the project when it's not fun anymore. What an observation!

Will you make a commitment to do what the Lord shows you to do faithfully; today, tomorrow, and the year after that? Ministry should be fulfilling! But, 'fulfilling' is not always found in something 'new' or in success that can be measured in numbers. God blesses faithfulness, showing up each day with excellence, dedication, and a willingness to get the job done.

You have heard it before, but it needs to be repeated. Do not quit too soon! Take a break for renewal. Re-evaluate methods. Learn from those who do it best. Listen for the voice of the Spirit. Enlist people to stand with you; but don't quit!

Study this word from the Word. Before you read it, pause for moment and pray this: "Lord, teach me and give me courage to accept the Truth." OK, now read it.

"Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don't get tired of doing what is good.
Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters." (Galatians 6:8-10, NLT)

Go, the world is waiting for you. Start where you are!

Want to know more about the Malcolms? See Malcolms in Africa