Living Mission Minded In 2025

Before us lies a new year as 2024 fades away. We are each filled with longing for change, for breakthrough, for the realization of our dreams and goals over the next 12 months. Some of us are just glad to have "made it". However difficult or beautiful the past year, the year end provides a unique opportunity for each of us to reflect and plan afresh for what's next.

In 2025, what if we chose to live differently? What if we laid aside pride and personal achievements for something greater? What if we decided to make this a year where every decision, every action, is aligned not with our personal desires but with eternal purpose. This is what happens when we lay down self and purpose to live for God's glory. Let us transform our days into a continuous act of worship aligning our ambitions with the God's will and His heart, living mission minded.

The Call

Jesus is calling each of us, He has been since the beginning of time. He's calling us to live intentionally. Yes we should be seeking to enhance our spiritual lives and draw closer to God, but not in isolation. Living intentionally is also about viewing our jobs, our relationships, and our lives through the lens of what we can contribute to God’s kingdom, rather than what we can gain from the world. Our goals should align to this purpose.

So, do you want to answer His call? Do you want to live a little more mission minded in 2025? Let us invest our time in this purpose. Let us continually reevaluate where our affections lie in order to realign them to Christ's will.

By God’s grace, we can cultivate a life that not only seeks His face, but also radiates His glory to those around us and to the nations beyond our borders! Here are some steps of how to do that in 2025.

Step One: See Christ In Others

"Made in the image of God", this is where we get our value. This is why we, as the human race, are all valuable whether; rich or poor, English speaking or Chinese, living selflessly or selfishly. Our roots, being made in His image, is what gives us value, not our ancestors or our actions.

Matthew 25:40 says – "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

When we see those around us as Christ, it changes how we treat them. This realization inspires profound compassion and serving. Jesus heart is for all people. When we draw close to Him we begin to see the people around us as He does. With loving understanding and care.

Some tips for seeing others as He does:

• Pray for open eyes. Start each day by asking the Lord to open your eyes to see Him in each person you encounter.
• Serve as if you were serving Christ. Whether teaching the children at your church, offering advice for a friend who is struggling, providing food for the hungry, ministering to immigrants, or whatever it may be. Do it as if unto Christ. Because ultimately it is.
• Humble yourself. It's so easy to judge others. It's so easy to see yourself as better than another. Don't let your service make you proud. Remember that Jesus, though He was God did not count Himself too Holy to bend the knee and wash feet.

Step Two: Pray Fervently

It may not seem like you have much to give to the cause of making Christ known among the nations. But, you do! The greatest weapon available to us as Christians is prayer. Pray in faith for opportunities to advance His kingdom here on earth. Pray for His kingdom to come.

Some tips for praying fervently:

• Choose specific ministries to support in prayer. Know a friend who is a missionary? Does your church support a ministry spreading the love of Jesus locally or abroad? Put them on a list and tape it up where you will see it each morning.
• Ask God to burden your heart for a specific country. I did this, and at the time it was Mexico. I began to study Mexican culture, learn the language, and pray specifically for the Mexican people. Ask God to give you a burden for a specific culture and people and then pray for them.
• Pray for your church and Christian community. Maybe God will raise up more workers for His harvest out of your unceasing prayers for those around you!

Step Three: Recognize The Mission When It Comes To Your Door

Maybe you will not be called to go to another country. Maybe it really isn't doable for you to uproot your family and cross multiple timezones to make a new life reaching the lost. Though I do believe God does call more people to go than to stay, there are times when He has you stay put for a purpose. In that case I need you to recognize something. The great commission still applies to you!

Matthew 24, Matthew 28, Romans 10, Revelation 5, and more, all emphasize one thing. God desires for people from all nations to join His church and become His people. Moreover He calls his disciples to spread His love and the good news of His salvation to all people. Near and far.

In our day and age we have a unique mission field. Because we don't have to leave US soil to encounter people from other tribes and nations where Jesus is less known. Hundreds of thousands of nations are right outside our door. They are in our neighborhoods and cities, at our jobs and in our streets.

In 2025 there are nearly 48 million immigrants in the United States, with persons from virtually every country in the world! That is around 14% of our total population. We no longer have to leave America to encounter the nations, though some of are definitely still called to. But those who cannot "go" can and should still be a part of reaching the nations.

Some tips for taking advantage of the opportunity at your door:

• Love the immigrants here as you would abroad. There is a great irony in the American church, and it is this; a member can go to some remote place in Africa and love on the least of these for one week on a mission trip. And upon returning home speak negatively and stereotypically about the "foreigners invading America". Dehumanizing the very same people they claim to love out there. Let us not make this mistake!
• Seek relationships with people different than you. If we are only around people who are like us and do not seek out diversity, the opportunities to reach the nations will be few. Loving the least of these require knowing some least of these. Get out there and diversify!
• Look for ways to invest in foreigners. Whether it be hosting an immigrant family, accepting a foreign exchange student, teaching English to kids through local school programs, donating items to charities that provide for immigrants and refugees, volunteering at the border, or supporting others who are doing these things. You can invest in immigrants here in America. In doing so you may also find the opportunity to share the gospel with them as you are helping to meet their physical needs.

Step Four: Seek Out Good Causes To Support

A part of living mission minded is putting your resources where your heart is. It's easy to get tired of being asked to give to every cause around. But don't let the overwhelming need stop you from doing something. Remember that though finances are a big part of supporting the mission, it is not only finances that are needed, but time, talents, and fervent prayers as well. Everyone has something to give.

1 John 3:17 says - "If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?"

Some tips for seeking out good causes to support:

• Do your research. Every cause is not a worthy cause. Look for Christ centered ministries that are helping without hurting. Make sure they are spending donations wisely and for the intended purpose of the giver.
• Spread your resources out. It is better to give to several ministries rather than pouring everything into one. Meeting needs across countries and diverse ministries is ideal.
• Use your talents for the cause of Christ. In whatever way the Lord has gifted you, use those gifts to spread His love to the causes around you. For example; if you can paint, consider doing an artwork fundraiser to support a cause. If you are great at organization, maybe you can volunteer to do some administrative work for a ministry. Are you a leader? Maybe you can use that to mobilize a team to pour into and equip missionaries internationally.

Step Five: Do Something, However Small

Don't let "but I can only do a little" be your excuse to do nothing.

Zechariah 4:10 tells us not to "despise the day of small beginnings". Matthew 10:42 says that even the smallest act such as giving someone a cup of cold water will be rewarded! And 2 Corinthians 8:14 says that our "abundance" should be given to supply "their needs", speaking of other believers in material need.

Whether we have great riches or a single coin, God calls us to live our lives as if everything that we have is His. Our material possessions, our time, our talents, even our very breath! (because it is)

Some tips for doing something:

• Be intentional with your time. Prioritize your activities around what holds eternal value. Schedule witnessing, loving your neighbor, and serving into your schedule if you have to!
• Prioritize giving in your budget. Don't give out of your leftovers. Give of your first fruits. Make a plan each month to set aside funds to do good. Then ask the Lord to direct you to the cause that He would like you to contribute to.

Let us live mission minded in 2025 friends. May His kingdom come. May His will be done in our lives and in the world today, this year, and forever more.

Read some of my other posts about immigrants in America - Not Your Mission Field, Illegal Immigrant, A Lesson on Calling From Jonah, What About Them? (current world and political events through my eyes)