Amidst the busy-ness of life it's easy to forget just who we're being busy for... Join Margaret Lilley as she reflects on Genesis 14...
Read: Genesis 14
Sometime ago, our local primary school had an Ofsted visit for a couple of days and so our church decided to bless the staff with scones, cream and jam to have at break time. I volunteered to get everything, but had back-to-back meetings all day. I had one small window of an opportunity to visit the supermarket and then to dash to the school. I knew which aisles I needed to find the items and I was in and out of the supermarket in record time. I got to the school and was greeted with a huge smile – they were very grateful for the scones – and I managed to get to the rest of my meetings on time, so all was well.
Two days later a neighbour commented that they had seen me in the supermarket that day, and said I had certainly looked like a woman on a mission! I was able to explain what had happened.
In Genesis 14, Abram is on an important mission of his own. News had reached Abram that his nephew, Lot, had been captured. This was bad news and Abram knew he had to take action. He knew he needed to act quickly and so gathered 318 men to help with his rescue plan. He was a man on a mission. Abram made his plan, organised his team and began. He knew the outcome he was looking for and victory came. Rescue mission complete!
Every time a lifeboat is launched a rescue mission is under way. When the bleepers sound, the crew members on call stop what they are doing and get to the lifeboat station as quickly as possible. They are on a rescue mission and nothing is going to stop them. They don’t wait for the one they are rescuing to get close to the shore, the crew risk everything, even their own lives, finding the one in need of help, meeting them where they are and bringing them safely back to shore.
On my desk I have a very small model of a life boat which is a good reminder to me that part of my mission is to be involved with what God is doing. I want to see more children and young people rescued by Jesus and, in turn, share the rescuing love of God with their friends.
You may not be involved in anything as dramatic as Abram, or saving lives at sea, but those who have chosen to follow Jesus are called to reach out with the love of God and the good news of the gospel to those who have not heard.
Is your ‘mission’ for today your own, or is it God’s mission in which you can play your part?
Margaret Lilley
Regional Team Leader
As the South West Regional Mission Team Leader, I am very passionate about serving God and reaching others with the Good News of Jesus. I am based near Bristol and manage a team of staff across our region. Our focus is to partner with churches, helping them connect with the 95% of children and young people who are not in church, creating opportunities for them to explore faith, respond to God and ultimately grow through discipleship. I also have close connections with SWYM (South West Youth Ministries) and SU South Africa. I have the privilege of co-leading the Polzeath Family Mission with Toby Chant, one of our Mission Enablers, as well as being responsible for responding nationally to any safeguarding concerns raised through our events.