Building One Another
SEND AND BE SENT, Vol 8 No 24
June 15, 2009
Dear Friend,
Summertime is frequently a time of moving. Graduates from high school and college may move to a new life in new location. People take jobs in other communities and so on.
When you move away from an area and from the church and Christian fellowship of that area you may think of yourself as “leaving.”
Don’t consider yourself as leaving but as being sent!
To “leave” means to no longer be a part of. It’s goodbye!
To be sent on the other hand does not mean goodbye but “see you!” It is to go out with a mission to accomplish on behalf of and in a continuing relationship with those from whom you are sent.
This is illustrated perfectly in the moment when the church in Antioch sent Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary journey. “Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.” Acts 13:3-4*
They didn’t leave. They were sent. Furthermore, they weren’t sent just by the fellowship. They were also sent by the Holy Spirit.
When you depart, know you are sent by friends and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. If someone is going to depart your fellowship – pray with them and for them – assuring them they are not leaving but are loved – and sent!
With joy - E. Stanley Ott
Copyright 2009 E. Stanley Ott
*Scripture from the NRSV