Too Small

By: Rev. Scott Armstrong

The following is a devotional written for the opening day of Maximum Mission: Impact D.R., in which 70+ participants from over 15 nations will be serving in the eastern Dominican Republic this week.

Key Verse: “The Lord says: ‘It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth’” (Isaiah 49:6).

Devotional Reflection:

I am a fan of the NBA. I follow the sport of basketball all year long. It was around five or six years ago when I started to notice an annoying trend: after a made bucket or an exquisite pass, many of the players would lower their hand parallel to and about two feet off the ground and glare at an opposing player. The implication? “Compared to me, you are too weak, too pitiful, too small.”

I don’t like “talking trash” on the court, but I wonder if some of us in the Church could use a harsh talking-to. We go through our week pretty much thinking of ourselves the entire time. Sometimes we organize events where we reach out to our communities, but let’s not get radical, right? Those are one Saturday every three months. The rest of the time we’ve got bills to pay, work to be done, and tests to study for. Even if some of us as Christians think of our neighbors’ well-being (praise the Lord!), few of us truly are burdened for the nations far away. 99% of the time we spend thinking of and being with people that are just like us.

In Isaiah 49, God is lovingly attempting to give Israel a wakeup call: “You think about yourselves all the time! That’s too small a thing! I want to transform the entire world through you!”

If you are reading this, you have said YES to God’s call to impact the eastern Dominican Republic this week. You have raised the money and traveled far away. You have taken vacation days in order to sleep in uncomfortable places and minister with and to unknown cultures and people. A lot of Christians would say, “Whoa, that’s drastic!” But I wonder if God is looking upon this group and saying, “Yes! You’re starting to get it. It was too small a thing for you to stay comfortable. Now I will make you a light to bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Discussion Questions:

1. What did you have to give up to be a part of this missions trip? What sacrifices did you make?
2. Why are you here this week? What compelled you to do this?
3. What are your expectations for the next days together? How might God want to confirm or adjust those expectations?

There will be times this week when you will have to decide between the “too-small” option and the “impact-the-world-no-matter-what” option. It might include adapting to new realities or doing something you’ve never done before. Ask God – and your group – to hold you accountable in those moments. As you say this final prayer, resolve to always choose God’s big vision and not anything that is “too small.”

Final Prayer: “Father, use me to impact the nations. Help me never to choose what is too easy or too small in your eyes, just because it’s comfortable. That goes for this week and always. Amen.”