Oxford Hills Is Part of the World!

We talk about Global Outreach, and that is my heart’s passion. However most of us live and function in the Oxford Hills of Maine, and that’s fine, because this is part of the globe that needs to be reached! Though it’s not as if some of us should not commit to going to countries where the people are not familiar with who Jesus Christ really is.
I say it like that because of Muslims. There are just under 2 BILLION Muslims in the world today. That is around 25% of the world’s population.
Muslims know the name of Jesus, as He is mentioned in the Quran. But they don’t believe He is God and they don’t believe He died on the cross. They believe it was an imposter on the cross. They know His name, but they don’t acknowledge the true Jesus of the Bible. That is a huge problem because “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Some of us definitely need to go to unreached people groups to share the truth of the gospel. Until that time comes, let’s all be obeying Christ’s command to make disciples – right here in the Oxford Hills! As this becomes a way of life for us it is more likely that God will use some of us in other parts of the world as well.
I know it is clear to those of us who are following Christ that most people around us are not. Most of us have friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers, and acquaintances who are not disciples of Christ. The love of Christ should be compelling us to let them know who Christ is and what He has done for them.
Remember the teaching of Colossians 3:1, 2 “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
And Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations …”
Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” So here we are. To be obedient to Christ we don’t have a choice but to be making disciples, right here where we live, and wherever God calls us. Making God’s glory known in the earth should be the focus of our lives.
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. 2 Corinthians 5:20. We are to represent Christ in the world. Let’s do it with purpose in our current part of the world – the Oxford Hills of Maine.

-David Shaw