Knowing God through His Word … Day by Day

Jesus’ ministry begins in Matthew 4, and we read that he fulfilled prophecy by starting in Capernum:

Matthew 4: 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Note:

• God has a plan for Jesus to be in a certain time and a certain place. 
• Jesus is the Great Light of the world, and the people SEE Him
• Jesus preaches repentance.

Might this be true of missions?

• God has a plan for each of us.  That plan may involve leaving one country/people/language and going to another, out of our comfort zone, to preach repentance.
• In Matthew 5:14, Jesus tells us that WE are the light of the world.  When Jesus lives in us, His light shines though to others who are in darkness.   In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul says:

4:1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.