Cedarville Magazine Spring 2021

CHAPEL NOTES COMMISSIONED: SEEING AND SENDING IN THE MISSION OF GOD The following is an excerpt from a January 27, 2021, chapel presentation by Josh Bowman, Assistant Professor of Missions and Theology, as part of CUGO Days. Listen to his full message at cedarville.edu/BowmanJan21 . Think about the three billion people around the world who've never heard the Gospel, and they're facing a Christless eternity. Do you see that with compassion? Does it shape the way you view your world, your life, your future? In Exodus 2, the people are groaning under the oppression of slavery. God's choice and blessing of Israel was always about getting the Gospel to the world. God initiates His rescue plan in Exodus 3:1–6. The cries of the people reached God. Salvation throughout the Bible is dependent on God intervening, doing what we can't do. But God graciously enlists servants to work with Him. After looking at the burning bush, Moses heard his name and said, “Here am I.” God didn't choose him because of his qualifications, leadership, gifting, or preparation. In Exodus 3:7–10, the method of God's deliverance was “I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people out.” Moses began to look at his circumstances. There was nothing he could do to affect their slavery. But sending inadequate, weak people is key to God fulfilling His mission. He didn't feel sufficient. Later he'll say, “Send someone else.” Our ‘Here am I’ can so quickly turn into “Not me,” “Why me?,” or just a “No.” We're excited about missions. But we also want to say, “Send them and not necessarily me.” This is not a time for you to be a spectator. His plan is that you are a “goer” or a “sender.” Moses was worried about who he was, but God said, “I will be with you.” Like Moses, we may be overwhelmed by our circumstances and underwhelmed by who we are. Anything He asks you to do is found in this: God is with you. In Exodus 3:13–14, “Then Moses said to God, ‘If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask, “What's his name?” what am I going to say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I AM who I AM.’” Moses changes his concern from “who am I?” to “who are you?” Moses was asking for much more than some syllables to pronounce. He was asking about His essence, His power, and His character. God reveals Himself as eternal, present, and much more as He says, “I AM who I AM.” As the only ultimate reality, every man, woman, and child needs to hear about Him. Moses had that simple, “Here I am.” But go deeper than that and say, “Here I am. What would you have me to do? Use me and send me to reach people.” Are you available and willing to be sent? Josh Bowman is Assistant Professor of Missions and Theology. He earned his Ph.D. in applied theology and international missiology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Here I am. What would you have me to do? Use me and send me to reach people. Follow along as Cedarville's President, Thomas White, walks us through the book of Philippians, discovering how our only source of real, lasting joy is through a personal relationship with Christ. Join us as we make much of Jesus this year. cedarville.edu/KnowJesusKnowJoy 30 | Cedarville Magazine