[Jesus said:] “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” --Acts 1:8

In his book, Pastoral Renewal, Charles Simpson wrote:

“I met a young man not long ago who dives for exotic fish for aquariums. He said one of the most popular aquarium fish is the shark. 

“He explained that if you catch a small shark and confine it, it will stay a size proportionate to the aquarium. Sharks can be six inches long yet fully matured. But if you turn them loose in the ocean, they grow to their normal length of eight feet. 

“That also happens to some Christians. I’ve seen the cutest little six-inch Christians who swim around in a little puddle. But if you put them into a larger arena—into the whole creation—only then can they become great.”

Jesus commanded all believers to “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 [he has] commanded” (Matthew 28:19-20).

There is no room to grow inside the walls of a Sunday School classroom, church building, or your own home. We have been called to go outside of those walls and reach out to the lost world that needs to know Jesus.

Get involved in doing missions and evangelism in your neighborhood, city, or state through your church, local seniors group, or Bible study class. If you are physically unable to get involved, become a prayer warrior for the cause of Christ. Your prayers are needed both on and off the mission field.

Get out of the puddle you’ve been swimming in, and take your faith to a larger arena—the world.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that God would open the doors for you to reach out to those who are lost in your Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.