Today's devotional is about Christmas being a model for missions. Christ came to Earth, but his welcome was less than spectacular. Well, other than the angel choir singing his arrival… But no one, other than a few shepherds, heard and saw that. He was born in a stable… His own eventually rejected him. As he went, so you are to go. Your entrance will be less than spectacular. You will be rejected by those to whom you go. That's it. As I, so you.
But the devotional goes on to tell of a greater danger than all of this; the danger of doubting God's mercy.
The greatest danger a missionary faces is to distrust the mercy of God. If that danger is avoided, then all other dangers lose their sting.
For what God wills, He provides a way and the means. He does not abandon. He does not taunt. When he asks, "do you trust me," you can. After that, fear and death have lost their power. And if they are now powerless, you are now free to follow God to the ends of the earth, without fear.
As I, so you.
Remember this Advent that Christmas is a model for missions. As I, so you. And that mission means danger. And that the greatest danger is distrusting God’s mercy. Succumb to this, and all is lost. Conquer here, and nothing can harm you for a million ages.
All Things Elda 