20/20 VISION  (Read Matthew 28:16-20)

"That missionary was good today," Cheryl told her mother
as they arrived home from church. "I think missionaries have
such an exciting life-traveling far away and seeing strange
places and different people. And they get to give the gospel
to people who've never heard it before. That would be
neat! Maybe I'll be a missionary some day. I hope God
calls me to Japan."

Just then the phone rang, and Mother answered.
After a moment, she held her hand over the mouth-
piece. "Cheryl," she said, "Mrs. Fisher would like you to go
with her on youth visitation next Friday. She wants to visit some
girls who have just moved into our neighborhood."

"I want to go skating Friday," said Cheryl. "Anyhow, I don't
know what to say to those girls. Do I have to go?"

Mother spoke into the phone, "Cheryl will call you later, Mrs.
Fisher." Hanging up the phone, she turned to her daughter,
"Remember what the optometrist said when you had an eye
examination a week ago?" asked Mother.

Cheryl nodded. "He said I had 20/20 vision," she replied, "and
that means I have perfect eyesight. At twenty feet I can see what
the normal person sees from the distance."

"Right," said Mother, "and I'm glad you have 20/20 vision in
your eyes. But I've just been thinking about your missionary
vision. It seems to me that you're farsighted."

Cheryl beamed. "You mean because I'm interested in mission
work in faraway places? That's good, isn't it?"

Mother shook her head. "Not exactly," she replied. "A person
whose eyes are farsighted can't see objects up close very well
You're excited about going far away to tell people about Jesus, but
you aren't interested in some girls on the next block. If you can
be a good witness here, do you suppose you'd make a good
missionary far away?" m.r.p.

How about you? - Are you interested in someday taking the gospel to a faraway place? That's wonderful! But are you so farsighted that you don't see the people around you who need to hear about Jesus? Ask the Lord to open your eyes to see the souls you should reach here and now. Get 20/20 mission vision!

Key:  Witness Here and Now

Memorize: "Do you not say, "four months more and then the harvest'?
I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.." 
                                                                                                  John 4:35  NIV

This is out of the book "The One Year Book of Devotions for Kids"  BUY IT  Copyright @ 1993 Children's Bible Hour

Updated 11/03/01