This is where I'm meant to be

So today I visited a different church with a friend. The person who gave the sermon talked about Matthew 28:18-20: "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' "

The sermon was about how we are called to bring people to Christ, so they can be disciples. He said that the word "nations" didn't mean that we had to go across the world to share the love of Christ, but that we are to be interspersed with the different groups of people around us. He gave the metaphor that "the Earth is not a pancake, but a waffle." Now this seemed really bizarre to me at first, but then he explained. He said that when you pour syrup on a pancake, the syrup covers the pancake by itself, with no work involved. This would be like missionaries going to a missionfield but not doing anything. With a waffle, there is work to be done in order to have the syrup spread from one square to another. You have to move the syrup on purpose. We must be deliberate in spreading the word of God and have a purpose for doing so. We have to put work in for the glorification of Christ.

I know that in my own life, this is much easier said than done. Sometimes I think that the people around me will see that I am different and know why. But that just isn't the case. I must talk to my friends about how the love of God has changed me and changed my life. Not only how but why. Explain to them that His love for me is so deep that I WANT to live for Him and be with Him forever. I have to be able to reach out of my comfort zone and be bold around groups of people that may or may not know the love of Christ. I have to go out and share with people I don't know that may not have heard how amazing He is before. That is why I am where I am. There is a reason and purpose, and I am going to follow what God has laid out for me to do-for Him.

"My heart and my soul, I give You control. Consume me from the inside out Lord"