One of the most conclusive invitations in all the Bible is given in its final chapter: “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). This text shares a loving invitation from the Spirit of God to receive the water of life. But if you read and study this carefully, this is more than just a simple invitation!
The Holy Spirit and the bride give an open invitation to come. But those who hear the invitation are not only to “come,” but also to “say, ‘Come!’ ” In other words, those who respond to the invitation are called to extend the same invitation to others. Ellen White clearly points out this responsibility: “The charge to give this invitation includes the entire church. Everyone who has heard the invitation is to echo the message from hill and valley, saying, ‘Come.’ ”1
The job of inviting people to hear and receive the gospel belongs to everyone who has heard the gospel. We are to sow invitations everywhere, and we are to sow generously! As a result of doing our job in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, the whole world will be warned, and Jesus will come back to this earth. “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14).
Sharing creatively
We have each been called to be missionaries. As Seventh-day Adventist Christians, we each have a responsibility to share the good news that we’ve been given. We’ve been called to seek and save those who are lost. But missionary work does not have to look the same for each of us. We don’t each have to preach like a pastor or give Bible studies like a Bible worker. These are critical roles, but 1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Ellen White shares, “Long has God waited for the spirit of service to take possession of the whole church so that everyone shall be working for Him according to his ability.”2
Imagine how exciting it would be if every lay member in our churches were using his or her gifts, abilities, and resources to be involved in sharing the gospel, meeting the needs of people in our communities, sharing literature, giving Bible studies, blessing others, sharing a testimony, and preaching God’s Word in word and deed.
Being a missionary can be fun, creative, and rewarding!
Imagine if we were willing to be stretched and grown by God through our willingness to do more for the salvation of others. We would see God doing great things through us because the hand of the Lord would be with us, just as it was with those in Acts 8 who were scattered abroad preaching the Word! And a great number would believe and turn to the Lord.
In Matthew 9:37, 38 Jesus says to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” We need to be those laborers! We are called to be those laborers.And we need to teach others to do the same.
Following are some creative, out-of-the-box ways that you can use to be a laborer for Jesus and to share His love with others. Being a missionary can be fun, creative, and rewarding!
Take a “welcome to the neighborhood” gift to those who move into your neighborhood. We love to take fresh baked bread with a welcome note. We also include our contact information in case they want to reach us again.
Celebrate your birthday by giving small gifts to others or by doing acts of service.
Make up some goodie bags and store them in your car for the next time you see a homeless person. You can include pop-top canned soup, crackers, nuts, granola bars, socks, toiletries, and a sharing tract.
Help protect families in your neighborhood from potentially fatal fires by collecting smoke detector batteries to share with them.
Use your skills or profession to help someone—change oil for a single mom, offer tutoring sessions to students of low-income families, organize fundraising events for charities, or conduct workshops on personal finance, parenting, marriage, or other areas.
Adopt a local homeless shelter or women’s shelter in your area and take them gifts and homemade treats.
Stop by a nursing home and visit someone who doesn’t receive many visitors. Sing with them. And thank the staff while you’re there!
Fill door hanger bags with a sharing book, a packaged treat, and a note of thanks. Share them with those who work in your community and tell them how much you appreciate the goods or services they provide.
Think of others during the holidays. Invite them over to share your Thanksgiving meal. Take treats and gifts to those who work on Christmas morning.
Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17 by sharing a grocery gift card with someone at the store, paying for the car behind you in the drive-through, or paying it forward some other way.
Donate new pajamas for children in foster care.
Go door-to-door in your neighborhood offering to pray for people and sharing literature with them.
Randomly send flowers to someone to brighten their day.
Contact your local hospital to see how you can bring cheer to the patients.
Ask God to show you how to use your talents to serve Him!
Let us each respond to the invitation to “come.” And let us each consider how we can also extend the invitation to others. Let’s let our lights “so shine before men, that they may see [our] good works and glorify [our] Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
1 Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1911), p. 110.
2 Ibid., p. 111.
