Costa Rican Children

As I was thinking about this article, different issues and topics came to mind. However, because of the relevancy and the Holy Spirit’s pull on my heart, I chose to discuss God’s direction for Christians to spread the Word to all nations.

Matthew 24:14 states that “…this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations…” In a couple of days I will return to Costa Rica for a week, which is my second time in that beautiful country. In Costa Rica, what is so eye-opening is that they pray to the same God, but with a different language. This helped me understand how BIG God truly is, and how His love is so great and beautiful. A long time ago languages were created to cause chaos, but God knew what He was doing; a different language does not separate people from the Almighty God – it simply paints a picture of the diversity of the world that is still crafted under one God. If I never had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica, I would have never had the powerful realization that no matter what language, when someone prays to God, He is listening.

God calls us to take His word and His gospel and teach it to all nations. We must never hesitate to do this because some people will never even hear God’s name unless Christ followers bring it to them. While walking among the Godless villages in Costa Rica, my purpose is clear. If no one goes to spread the beautiful gospel of Jesus, they  may never know how much He loves them. That Jesus was willing to die for them.

It has become clear to me that God gave us a mouth, feet, and a Bible to share the Gospel! However, traveling to a foreign country is not always required. Last weekend I helped lead a wonderful group of youth to a church in Birmingham where we donated over 150 coats and blankets. This church was a place of Christian love and radical hospitality. All people were welcome, regardless of age, gender, race, economic status, ethnic background, mental or physical ability, or sexual orientation. My eyes and heart are opened to how simple but lovely a place of worship and prayer can be. We served lunch and talked to some of the people who were all very thankful for our service. So beautiful.

Jesus sends us to a lost and broken world to bring restoration because now that Christ has rescued us, we must, in turn, go rescue His people. Genesis 1:27 states that “… God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him…” When we are “Recreated,” through the blood of Christ, we are now able to walk for Him. We carry the light of Jesus so that we never have to fear the darkness, and so we can defeat the darkness of sin with His amazing light. 2 Corinthians 4:6 states that “…for God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

Just as God has many times, I also urge you, as your sister in Christ, to take God’s Word seriously. Jesus’ mandate comes from his passion for all people to come to Him. This is a command, and when we choose to follow it, we are rewarded with the overwhelming grace and love of Christ as He moves in the lives of others.

Jesus is with you always. He will never abandon you. Now go.  Serve God.  Spread His love and message to all.

Sarah Whitmore is a senior at Grissom High. She travels back to Costa Rica today to bring Christ to the nations.

-Sarah Whitmore

(Sarah is traveling back to Costa Rica today. She is using her spring break to go and share Jesus with the nations).

Related articles

• George Whitefield Quote – That God And Man Might Be Happy Together Again! (haroldcameron.wordpress.com)
• Philippians (Week 2) (slideshare.net)