Regions Beyond

"Not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men's labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another. But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends." 2 Corinthians 10:15-18 NASB

That phrase, 'to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you' is the the heart of the evangelist... the motto of the missionary. Inside our sphere we are enlarged to go to the regions beyond our sphere. Where we go is outside the boundary of where we have been.

Grace is good for what is close to us and also for what is beyond us. The good news is good news everywhere. It is good in our comfort zone and also outside of it.

It is healthy to go beyond. I think our fears lie often in that unknown territory. We think that the world is flat and that we will fall off. When we go beyond we see that the Earth is round and we can not fall off.

Grace has given us God's approval as an assurance. That approval extends beyond us. It extends beyond our sphere. The one who never ventures into the regions beyond never finds that out for themselves.

Let's go beyond.

If God leads us let's go and see His faithfulness in a foreign setting. What is now outside our sphere will then be incorporated into our sphere which will leave another grand horizon.