The Confident Witness (4)
We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 2 Corinthians 10.13
Now what?
As we’ve seen with the apostle Paul, after he became a Christian there was never a moment when he had to ask himself, “Now what?”
He seemed to know from the very beginning that, whatever else he did, or wherever he went in life, telling other people about Jesus was going to be his primary occupation and calling. Jesus Christ had brought him the Good News of forgiveness and a life abounding in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14.17, 18). How could he not tell others about such wonderful Good News?
For Paul, the question was never “whether” to be a witness, but only, “where” or perhaps more pointedly, “by what means.” All he needed was for God to show him the area of influence He had prepared for him, and Paul would knock himself out making the Good News known there.
Areas of influence
Paul said that God had assigned to him an area of influence (“sphere”). This was just what God had done with Jesus, is it not? He’d sent Jesus to an “area of influence” that stretched from Galilee in the northeast to Tyre and Sidon on the west, south to Jerusalem and across the Jordan up through Decapolis to Galilee. Jesus devoted Himself to working that area of influence by His words and deeds, so others could see in Him and hear from Him the new reality and glorious Good News that the Kingdom of God had broken into time with new force and presence.
Paul’s area of influence was considerably larger than that of Jesus, mostly because Paul had more years to work his assigned place. From Jerusalem to Asia Minor to Greece and Rome, and maybe beyond, Paul embraced his calling to bring “boasting about the Lord” Jesus into every place his feet touched the ground. Paul had no greater joy than to boast about the Lord in every place he went—talking about Jesus, living the life of Christ with others, worshiping and praising the Lord, and urging others to know Him.
And when we understand and embrace our area of influence the way Paul did, we’ll begin to be more confident and consistent in our witness for Christ.
Your Personal Mission Field
The apostle Paul instructed the believers in Corinth to imitate him as he imitated Christ (1 Cor. 11.1). We can assume he intended this for us as well. Paul followed Jesus in discerning his area of influence for proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom. Each of us has been sent into the world as Jesus was sent, and as Paul went—to a particular place, time, and people, with a mission of making known the Gospel, bringing near the Kingdom, and being a witness for Jesus Christ (Jn. 20.21).
Each of us has a Personal Mission Field, unique to us, which the Lord has staked out for us and to which He sends us each day as His witnesses. Jesus said we are to “make disciples” in that Personal Mission Field, and He said we should do this “as you are going” (Matt. 28.18-20). Your Personal Mission Field is defined by the places you go, week-in and week-out. Your home, neighborhood, place of work, school, circle of friends, avocations, community—the places you go each week are the places to which the Lord is sending you as His witness, to make disciples “as you are going.”
Now let’s just pause here to insist that this calling to make disciples as we are going comes to every believer in Jesus. We can’t pay someone else to do this, and we must not act as if we don’t understand what this requires. Jesus is clear. Paul is clear. And the testimony of 2,000 years of Church history is clear: God has appointed all who believe in Jesus as ambassadors for His Kingdom, to show and tell Jesus and His rule to our world.
And our world begins just there, in the world which is our Personal Mission Field.
Your Personal Mission Field shouldn’t be too hard to identify. Identifying your Personal Mission Field isn’t the issue. Embracing it as such, is. As Paul immediately began to seek out, discern, and work the parameters of his area of influence, so we too should be busy discovering the places and people to whom the Lord sends us as ambassadors of Christ and witnesses to Him.
You could easily make a list of the places you go each week, and beside each place, jot down the names of the people you encounter there. There you have it—at least, that’s a beginning. Now you need to start praying for these people, getting to know them, looking for ways to show them the love of Jesus, initiating friendly conversations, and staying alert to every opportunity to bear witness to our risen and reigning Lord (Eph. 5.15-17). All of which we’ll have more to say about in subsequent installments in this series.
You have an area of influence—a Personal Mission Field. And the sooner you embrace that calling and begin to work your mission field like Jesus and Paul, the sooner the power of God’s Spirit will begin to grow in and flow through you, like living water of grace, truth, and life to all the people around you (Jn. 7.37-39).
We don’t have to go to the far corners of the globe to fulfill our calling as witnesses for Christ. The world is all around us every day, and we’ve been sent to it. Embrace your Personal Mission Field the way Jesus and Paul did, and you’ll begin to be a more confident and consistent witness in no time.
For reflection or discussion
1. Meditate on John 20.21. In what ways are you currently reflecting this in your life?
2. Meditate on Matthew 28.18-20. What is your responsibility toward the believers in your area of influence? How about to the lost people in your area of influence?
3. Meditate on John 7.37-39. If you were such a fountain, how would you expect this to affect your Personal Mission Field?
Next steps—Preparation: Have you identified your Personal Mission Field? Set aside some time to pray about this and to wait on the Lord as He clarifies for you that sphere of influence to which He daily sends you as His witness. Begin praying for those people at once.
T. M. Moore
Give thanks
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Knowing Jesus
Being confident witnesses begins in our relationship with Jesus, in knowing Him. Two books can help you grow in Jesus. To Know Him is a brief and lively exposition of Philippians 3.7-11 and explains what Paul means by this. You can order your copy by clicking here. Be Thou My Vision offers 28 daily meditations on Jesus, drawing on Scripture and writings from the period of the Celtic Revival. Order your copy by clicking here.
Thank you.
Many of you are faithful and generous in praying for and supporting Crosfigell and The Fellowship of Ailbe. Thank you. I encourage all our readers to seek the Lord about becoming a supporter of The Fellowship of Ailbe. It’s easy to give to The Fellowship of Ailbe, and all gifts are, of course, tax-deductible. You can click here to donate online through credit card or PayPal or Anedot, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
