One of my favorite songs right now is "Send Me" by Lecrae. It is a Christian rap song that really hits home for me because it hits on things that strike a cord in my heart and also reminds me about people I know. I invite you to listen to the song and just listen to the words even if you aren't into rap music. See if it hits home for you too. Here are the lyrics of the song. I have highlighted the things that really jump out to me.
[Chorus:]
Send Me, I'll Go
Send Me, I'll Go
Send Me, I'll Go
Let Me Go, Let Me Go
Send Me, I'll Go
Send Me, I'll Go
Send Me, I'll Go
Let Me Go, Let Me Go [x2]
I Seen it wit my own two
Theres no way I can show you
A perfectly poverty stricken people with no view
And I bet you can't believe this
They never heard of Jesus
Heard of Young Buck, Lil' Wayne, and Young Jeezy
No One signing up to go on missions this summer
Rather sit at home and watch Xzibit pimpin a hummer
While at night he rollin Shot now
Nobody sreamin Stop now
No bridge illustrates for criminals who on Lockdown
People deep in Africa, lookin for an answer bro
In China men are dyin men until they know who died for sin
So, look what grace did
Not for us to stay here
Inside our comfort zones at home in Momma's basement
Get out on the grind ya'll, aint no better time dog
I know you read the Great Commission let me just remind ya'll
Make Disciples of the Nations teach them to obey the Lord
Hate to never lead someone to Christ before I see the Lord
[CHORUS]
Ay, after 1000 years in the west and the churches
Gettin bigger daily without understandin worship
Some regenerate but alot aint saved
You walk outside and be surprised that the block aint changed.
And the numbers they be gettin them
Somethin still aint hittin them
American's aint Christian's they just practicin the rituals
Thats why we should be missions ay oh what you think I'm spittin fo
United States is dyin and the east is lookin pitiful
Some places if they catch you they'll arrest you and they'll serve you
But they still need the word too the gospel should be heard too
We claim we aint ashamed but we still aint hit the block up
We in our Christian bubble while our brothers gettin locked up
Lord I wanna Stop up
Take a bag and Walk up
In a country where sharin my faith may get me Shot up
Anyway I go Lord whether my city, Lord or For a broad
I just wanna show them Jesus Christ the risen Holy God.
[CHORUS]
I know they dyin in the streets
Over in the Middle East
Some kids seekin peace
Others holdin up a peace
If the violence doesnt seace
Then at least, the decease
Might know Jesus as they savior as they're body hit the street
And I know this is a graphic view
I pray that its attackin you
Tractin you, to act and do what you see in the back of blue
Matthew 24:14 We should read it twice
Before we think that life is just a Battle see we live for Christ
Look dog, life is more than Church, Work, and Football
What if you were dead in sin and Christians overlooked ya'll
This is why we leave the couches and the comfort of our houses
To show the world a God that Mayan never read about
Yeah...The Great Commission says make Disciples of all nations
Have we even made em in our own nation?
Come on Christians
Missions exist because worship doesnt
People don't worship the God that made them
We Ambassadors..Let's Go!
[CHORUS]
This song pulls at my heart because I know I am called to missions and going out and spreading the Word. I have been very blessed in the different opportunities I have had to serve on mission teams to Mexico, South Africa, ASP, New Mexico, and at home in the Dallas Metroplex. The Great Commission calls us to spread the Word and make more Disciples.
"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”" Matthew 28:16-20
Why are we so afraid to fulfill this? It says plain as day that Christ is with us ALWAYS. Not just when it is convenient or when we need Him or when we are living the right way. He is with us every second of every day of our lives. Christ Jesus has told us “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23) He carried the ultimate cross by dying for all of our sins and the way we glorify Him for doing that is to pick up our cross and spread the Good News. It is not easy and we will face persecution, but look at what Jesus went through for us. Still afraid of what will happen? If you are afraid of being shunned or laughed at you need to look in to scripture more and figure out what you really stand for and how important God is in your life. We are called to push everything else away and trust in God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but how do we shy away from doing so. Christ DEFEATED death. What makes you think your struggle is too big for Jesus to handle? Look at Matthew 24:14: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." It is not until the whole world knows the Truth of Jesus Christ that the end will come and when the end comes things will be so much better than they are here. We will all be sitting with Jesus Christ and God the Father and things will be so much better than we can comprehend here on earth. All of our treasures are in Heaven not on earth. We don't need fancy cars, nice clothes, or anything like that because they are worthless. However, learning what the Bible has to say and going out and making disciples are the true treasures of what earth has to offer. This is what prepares us to be accepted into the Kingdom with God the Father and our brother Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 is one of my favorite verses, but it is also one of my least favorite because of how often it is taken out of context. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." This isn't the important part. This is just the intro to the verses 17-20 where the message lies. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." What this tells us is Jesus came to the earth to not only defeat death, but to also defeat sin. By stepping into the light we admit that we are sinners, but we are committed to repenting. We know that we will stumble and fall short at times, but we are going to put or faith in Jesus Christ and ask for Help and guidance so that we can do everything we can to overcome sin and lead others to Christ. To often John 3:16 is used to condemn when it is actually the intro to good news about the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us.
I pray that everyone is able to hear their calling and does everything they can to glorify The Father and The Son in everything they do. I also pray that everyone understands there are so many more important things than just going to Church, Work, and watching Football.
I leave you with this. When you need a pick me up because you are struggling be it with gossip, a co-worker, lust, hatred, or anything else remember the last thing Christ said on the cross. "Tetelesti" or "It is finished". Remember this means our debt is paid in full.
