Mission Sunday contribution! This church will never cease to amaze me! We are living in difficult financial times. Think for a moment—who among us is not hurting financially? Yet, once again you have manifested your love for the lost and your longing for God to use this church to reach the lost. The total given this year, in view of all that is happening, is far more than I could have ever imagined.
We must not lose sight of what this is all about. It has nothing to do with any of us or with all of us. The glory and honor from the contribution is not for us, it is for Him who died for us! Jesus said it so vividly. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven” (Matt. 5:16). We glorify Him! God forbid that we should ever shine our lights, but God be praised that His light shines through us!
We must be thankful for how much brighter the light is which comes from a city and that which comes from a candle. Jesus, in the same discussion mentioned above, talked about how light from one candle can provide light for those in a single house, and then said, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” The amount given by any one of us seems so small, but when combined with the gifts of others brings joy to the lives and thanksgiving to the hearts of all who will learn of Jesus from what we gave. Light bringing glory to God comes from this amazing “city.”
We must be thankful that God can magnify what we sacrifice in giving to Him. The churches of Macedonia were in deep poverty (2 Cor. 8:2), but that did not mean that God could not use them. Paul described one of these congregations when he wrote to them. “You became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out so that we do not need to say anything” (1 Thess. 1:7-8). They were not a rich church and neither are we, but our God took whatever they were able to give to Him and multiplied it abundantly.
Finally, we must continue to say, “Here we are, Lord, use us.” Words like this came from the lips of Isaiah, and God took him and used him mightily. The Old Testament world learned more about the coming of the Messiah from this prophet than for any other. We have said, “Lord, use us,” and God has blessed us because with one heart we have said this to Him. We must never rest on past accomplishments, but ever look to the future. Let us rejoice as we see how He has used us, but we just cannot rest until we enter His rest in that day.