Luke 12-16: I'm Going on Another Mission Trip (Prague)
- Hope Joy X. Owens
- Jan 21
- 8 min read
Updated: Jan 21
January 14, 2025: I am overwhelmed by my Bible reading tonight. As I have been considering a mission trip recently, Scripture is screaming at me. God seems to be affirming the decision I made to go to Prague with His Scripture! This blog post is a compilation of my considerations for this trip and of my insights from reading the Bible. It may be a little messy, but I am posting this anyway, as I hope to honestly record my thoughts and encourage others to do missions.
CONTENT OVERVIEW
Bible Application from Luke 12-16
Learn More About Prague and How to Support
Considering the Costs
The chapters begin with much to say about God’s character and His Kingdom. This reminds me of the mission at hand. If you have chosen God, you must REALLY choose God. You have to count the costs. You have to surrender all to the Lord. You must be a good steward of your life on earth. The Lord counts every new repentant soul worthy of great celebration with eagerness and joy, such as the owners and the father in chapter 15. In light of the costs of discipleship, how much is another person’s soul worth to me? How much am I willing to sacrifice for God’s Kingdom?
My Thoughts About Prague
I have decided to go on a mission trip to Prague with my local church. Many factors weighed on my decision.
I was comparing the cost and length of the trip to my summer mission trips, which have a cheaper cost per day than this Prague trip that would not even last two weeks. However, God can do more in a moment than we could do in a lifetime. We are not supposed to call the shots. Our job is to live according to God’s Word and follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
I considered my financial state and the sacrifices I would need to make to fund the trip. However, God is a provider. He may not just hand me the money on a silver platter (though I believe He has the power to do so), but I know that God looks out for His people. Going on this trip means that I need to steward my money and my time well. Also, if going on this trip means that I could help plant just one Gospel seed in the life of a future brother or sister in Christ, the costs of this trip could not compare to the eternal benefit of another.
I thought of how people might think if I went on another “trip” and if I asked for more support. This is not a fear from God and needs to be quickly surrendered. I needed to be willing to sacrifice my pride and people-pleasing attitude.
I was unsure about taking on this trip without knowing anybody else going. Despite my friends going on a different trip, I felt enticed to look at Prague. It would not even be two weeks, and I have spent longer leaving friends to be with strangers who became friends. This consideration of comfort was also something that did not need to drive my decision.
I questioned the mission and impact we would have on the locals (which is always a good thing to consider). God calls us to be good stewards, which means considering strategy and purpose is a healthy thing.
I questioned my motivation and whether God was moving me to this specific trip (another good thing). God can and has proved He can use sinful motivations for His glory, but that does not mean I desire to have ulterior motives. The Lord commands us to fear Him and have pure motives.
Proverbs 16
1 The plans of the heart belong to a person,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,
But the Lord examines the motives.
3Commit your works to the Lord,
And your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing,
And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
God Affirms My Choice Through His Word
Once I felt positive about the good things to consider, I had to overcome the other questions that were hindrances to my “yes.” I decided earlier today to commit fully, and tonight’s reading has only affirmed my decision. Below are my reflections. For the sake of simplicity, I have not included all Scripture references, so I recommend opening your Bible and following along!
Luke 12:4-7 Jesus encourages His disciples concerning powerful opponents and explains that God is more powerful than they.
“Now I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed someone, has the power to throw that person into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are five sparrows not sold for two assaria? And yet not one of them has gone unnoticed in the sight of God. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.”
I need to not fear man. I need only to fear God. God values me, and I can place my confidence in that.
Luke 12:13-34 A person tells Jesus of a family inheritance situation, and Jesus proceeds to tell a parable on possessions. Next, He turns to His disciples for further instruction on materialism, providence, and priorities.
We are commanded to have Godly priorities. Seek the Kingdom and not the things of this world. My concern should not be materialistic, so surely I can make sacrifices to fund this trip.
Luke 12:35-48 Jesus explains what the disciples are to do until the day He returns. This passage has themes of urgency and stewardship.
Be ready for when Jesus Christ comes. Will you have been wasting your time, or will you be making an impact for the Kingdom? I certainly will make the efforts both in Mississippi now and In Prague this Summer to prepare for Jesus’ second coming.
Luke 12:49-53 Jesus explains that His coming down to earth will have worldly consequences. He categorizes people of the earth based on their devotion, not blood.
49 “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I came to provide peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; 52 for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Christ divides men. This is not a matter a person can sit in the middle of. Every person has either two destinies: heaven or hell. As a Christian, we have recognized this truth and accepted the Lord Jesus. Following our justification, God commands us to urgently tell others of this out of love. If I truly have compassion for another destined for eternal suffering, I would tell them of the path I have chosen and of God’s gracious and merciful love.
Luke 13
Jesus expresses the urgency and seriousness of repentance. Jesus set the example, and it is our turn to follow.
Luke 13:10-17; 14:1-6 Jesus heals on the Sabbath, regardless of what the religious precedents set by man are.
The Pharisees are prime examples of people who do not have their priorities in order. Our God is a God who cares for His people. He is willing to override the rules!
Luke 14:7-24 Jesus tells two parables of the guests and the dinner.
After Jesus tells the parable of the guests, He says to invite the less fortunate and not the ones from whom you can gain from. In the same way, I need to think of how I can serve others without having an ulterior motive. The parable of the dinner is about a host who invites many, but the original invitees (referring to the Israelites) make up excuses not to come. Therefore, he opens his invitation to strangers in the street. Just as the host has an invitation, God has an invitation, an open seat at the table in heaven. God called the Israelites first. Now, He is calling all people to Himself. When I accepted this gracious invitation, I also accepted a calling to tell other people about it too.
Luke 14:25-35
25 Now large crowds were going along with Him, and He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who are watching it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build, and was not able to finish!’ 31 Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to face the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 Otherwise, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and requests terms of peace. 33 So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
34 “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? 35 It is useless either for the soil or the manure pile, so it is thrown out. The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The cost of discipleship is high. As stated earlier, I must prioritize Jesus and be willing to make the sacrifices necessary for God’s kingdom.
Luke 15:1-32 Jesus tells the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son.
A repentant soul is valuable in the sight of God. Therefore, it is valuable to me also, and I will rejoice when my labor bears fruit!
Luke 16 Jesus tells the stories of the unrighteous steward and the rich man/Lazarus.
Be a good steward of your life. If you choose to live for the Kingdom, live it well. I will be faithful with what God has given me for I know the eternal impact I can have.
PRAGUE
With all this being said, I hope anybody reading this will be encouraged to be mission-minded whether that is in their everyday life or going on a mission trip! Also, I hope that you will support my team and me in prayer as we prepare to go to Prague this summer! If you would like to learn more about the trip and ways to support us, visit my page for Prague!
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