What is your Mission?
“Our life is not a ‘mission trip,’ our life is a mission.” I was challenged when I heard these words spoken. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples and said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20:21 (ESV) Jesus, sent by Father God to fulfill the justice required for the forgiveness of sin, now sends his disciples. In Matthew 28:19 he gives this command, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Just as the disciples, we are called to go. Often, we feel totally inadequate when faced with such a mission. God only asks that we obey His call.
A few years ago, I was leading a Bible Study and on the second week a young woman walked into the class. She was very timid and rarely looked up. She was listening intently but never spoke. As the class concluded and everyone was leaving, I knew that God was directing me to speak with her. Trusting the Holy Spirit to guide me, I sat down, and we talked.
She told me that she came to the United States as an adult from Iran. She shared that she had been seeking God all her life, but because of the sins of her atheist parents, she felt unworthy of His love. She struggled to believe that God could forgive her. As I shared scriptures and my testimony, she eagerly listened. She readily acknowledged that she was a sinner as the scriptures stated in Romans 3:23. When we read Romans 6:23 she was amazed that God would offer salvation as a free gift. In Romans 5:8, for the first time she heard the good news that even though she was a sinner, Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for her sin. Romans 10:9-10 revealed to her that sincerely believing in Jesus and confessing Him as Lord results in a relationship with God. Then in 1 John 1:9 she listened intently as I read that God is faithful and just to not only forgive our sin but to make us righteous in His eyes. She looked at me and said, “it seems so simple.” I said, “Yes, it is. All that you must do is believe Jesus died for you and receive Him as Savior.” I was ready to invite her to pray when she looked at me straight in the eyes and said, “I receive Jesus as my Savior.” I was a bit shocked and said, “You do?!” She said, “Yes, I receive Jesus as my Savior!”
The joy of seeing someone receive the gift of salvation is beyond words. Her countenance changed. She was smiling and joyful. I told her to share her experience with her husband and we talked about baptism. As she continued and completed the Bible Study and it was evident that in Christ, she was indeed a ‘new creation.’ She was experiencing the peace, hope and joy of being a part of God’s family.
I communicated with her for a while and was encouraged that she was continuing her walk with God. Now two years later, God brought her to my mind, and I wrote her name on my prayer list and prayed that she would continue to grow in her faith. After a couple of weeks, I got a phone call and, on the screen, I saw her name! She called because she wants to be baptized.
What a privilege to experience the joy of sharing God’s gospel. But what if I had not responded to the prompting of the Holy Spirit that day? What if I had not accepted my mission? God only knows how He will use that one life to grow His Kingdom. I think back at my own salvation experience and thank God that my coworker accepted her mission to share the gospel with me and my husband.
Every day there are those we encounter who are searching for peace. God has given us a mission. Go, share His good news. As God brings the opportunity, we are called to share the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results to God. As we share, we must not omit the most important part, the invitation. That day I found that sharing God’s word was like bringing a cool cup of water to a person dying of thirst. All I had to do was offer it and it was eagerly received.
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:24 (NLT)
What a powerful blog post, Carol. I love what you have said: “sharing God’s word was like bringing a cool cup of water to a person dying of thirst”. Thank you for sharing.
What a message to the inhibited Christian. Our obedience matters eternally.
Carol, what a great post and a great reminder that there are lost souls right here in our neighborhoods and our workplaces and in our families. I’ve been on foreign mission trips and the same excitement for the work there should be the same excitement for the work needed here.