Mixed motives require a bait and switch

We don’t come to Jesus perfect. We come compromised, messy. We have to start somewhere. Whoever really comes to Jesus to die? Usually we’re thinking about where we hope to
spend eternity.

For many people, a short-term mission trip may start out to
be about a desire to see the world, but it becomes more of a journey
inward. When you live with the poor, you
see how spoiled you are. When you see
orphans go without food and water, your own hunger and thirst becomes
insignificant in comparison. When you
want to minister, but have no resources, you have to depend on God. You are thrust into the partnership with him
that he desires.

Back home in our comfort zones with our stomachs full, we
never really need God. We are limited in
what we can learn about lordship.

So how do you ever reach a person trapped in their comfort
zones? You have to start with where they
are. If they are motivated by adventure,
give them an adventure, but give them something more. And once they’re out of their comfort zone,
they can consider a change.

Yes, it’s a bait and switch.
I make no apology for meeting this generation where they live, meeting
their need for adventure, and then asking them to change the world. God is all the time drawing people into a
conversation and then changing the subject.