Life is filled with different cues prompting certain actions—the shrill urgency of a bell warning of fire prompts us to run away while the tinkling of a bell signalling the arrival of the ice-cream cart draws us to it. Not unlike the ringing of a bell, the Christian receives a cue every Sunday.
At the end of the church service, when the pastor or elder pronounces a benediction on the congregation, what is the cue we receive? When we hear, “Go in peace and serve the Lord with joy”, do we pay no heed, other than the thought that we are now free to go off and pursue the activities we have lined up for the rest of the day, or week?
Or do the words “Go in peace and serve the Lord with joy” sound to us a clear call to missions—a cue that triggers the response to GO and SERVE?
After he was delivered from the mob of demons in Luke 8:26-39, the man desired to go with Jesus, but Jesus sent him away instead, saying “Go … tell what God has done for you.” What a powerful commission he received, to go on a mission to share what God had done. So it should be for us, whom Jesus has saved, as well.
To start our mission, we need to understand the two elements, peace and joy.
Now, it may seem ironic that we are admonished to go in peace when peace in this world is so difficult to find. Consider the situation of the Israelites when they were liberated from Egypt. Ever been on a trip where you do not know where you are going, have to pack in a hurry, eat on the run, navigate harsh desert, are pursued by an army, have to cross a sea that parted for you but drowned an entire army hot on your heels, drink bitter water and face more endless desert for forty years with no respite …? One lesson here is that while we may always hope for it, we should not expect a peaceful walk in the park when we go out into the world to share what God has done for us.
Yet, despite all the turmoil of the Israelites’ desert wanderings, God was in their midst, and they clung tightly to the hope of peace. This is the true meaning of peace—it is the peace we know only God can give. Acts 10:36 (NIV) says, “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” We are bearers of the same testimony— that peace has come through Jesus Christ.
Through this peace, the Israelites also knew joy. Psalm 105:43 (NIV) says, “He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy.” Even though circumstances were dire, the desert stretched ahead and the Promised Land was not yet in sight, their state was joy. I am convinced they were joyful from the hope of glory, anticipating what was to come. Their joy was the remarkable joy that exists irrespective of present circumstances.
God’s work must be done by God’s people. MMS’ primary mission is to establish indigenous churches where none currently exist. Our strategy is to work through appropriate partnership arrangements, whether with overseas Methodist entities or non-Methodist mission entities, or pioneer new missionary work. We are commended to serve with joy, partnering with
local churches to promote service opportunities and to ensure that missionaries are cared for.
It is my prayer that each Sunday, every Christian will grasp the cue of the benediction and, armed with God’s peace, joyfully answer his call to missions.
Connect with the team at MMS to find out about the work that we do.
Visit www.mms.org.sg for more information.
Collin Tan is the Chairperson of Methodist Missions Society (MMS) after serving two quadrennia as its Finance Chairperson. He worships at Bedok Methodist Church. / Photos courtesy of MMS