Start Where You Are

Tennis legend Arthur Ashe once said:

"To achieve greatness, 

start where you are, 

use what you have, 

and do what you can."

These are good words when it comes to living in a rhythm of mission, Jesus style.  We're never going to know as much or do it as well as Jesus did, yet living in such a way that others are able to catch glimpses of God's goodness and love is what he calls his children to do.  

Start where you are
The last words that Jesus spoke to his disciples before being taken up to heaven were about beginning their mission without him.  He told them to not leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came, then he said:

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes  on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. ACTS 1:8

The disciples walked back to Jerusalem and waited.  Jerusalem was their starting point.  So...wherever you are, that is your starting point!

Use what you have
I am reminded of Gideon (Judges 6), where an angel of the Lord appeared and told Gideon that "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."  The Lord was now calling Gideon to leadership and said:

Go in the strength that you have and save Israel... 

Gideon replied: My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.

The Lord answered, "I will be with you and you...

When doing the work of the Lord, we are never to be working solely in our own strength.  He calls us to use what we have, knowing that He will be with us. 

Do what you can
Do you ever feel inadequate or unprepared to do the work of the Lord?  We're just called to do what we can to show kindness to others in such a way that it opens the door for the message of the Gospel to be shared.  

...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.  

MATTHEW 25:40

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and willing to share.

1TIMOTHY 6:18

As the gospel takes root in a person's heart, the hope is that it will have the same transforming effect so that they too will be people who are able to:

Start where you are - - Use what you have - - Do what you can