Our Journey Our Mission

I have been reading Purpose Driven Life - It is my 4th or 5th time through in 8 years - I love this book - I get so much out of it every time I do this. It is a 40 day journey - that I can stretch into 60, but that is besides the point.

Today is day 36 on my journey and it talks about our Mission... So here is my entry:

God gave us a ministry and a mission -
Our ministry is service to believers -
Our mission in service to unbelievers.


Paul says in Acts 20:24 -
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Have I not know this was my mission? Yes, I have. My ministry is so in my comfort zone - it is easy to serve, share, speak with other believers about what Christ is doing, has done and will do in me.
My Mission is so far out of my comfort zone. This is where fear (False Evidence Appearing Real) sets in - confidence disappears, the boat starts to rock, the waves are splashing down on me - beating me - what will you say, what if they reject you - isn't that our biggest fear and hindrance - REJECTION - but we can't take it personally - they are not rejecting us - they are rejecting Jesus ... Oh Jesus, help me to keep my focus upon you - let me keep pushing through, perserving - moving forward - let my confidence be set on you in you - let me testify to others about your love and mercy. Let me share with the lost of your grace and how you saved me -one who is so undeserving - one who lived her life so far from you - one who should not be living but you gave me life!

I spoke of RESPONSIBILITY the other day. I have a responsibility to you Father - I have a responsibility to share with other Christians, but I also have a specific assignment from you to share with unbelievers. My mission is to introduce people to you my Father, so that they to can love you, be a part of your family, become more like you, serve you and tell others of you.

Jesus says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" - Matthew 28:19,20

Jesus tells us here that WE are to go out and make disciples - no just pastors and missionaries, but WE ALL of US. He also tells us to teach them - not just get them in the door and leave them to figure it out on their own - but to give them a personal guided tour - so they can then go out and make disciples (this is something so many churches are lacking - I will NOT go on). My favorite part in the scripture is that He tells us He will be with us ALWAYS - How many times have I forgot this and ran and got back in the boat my comfort zone. I must remember he is ALWAYS with me - ALWAYS - He is my confidence - I will set my eyes on Him - for he did not set me up to fall or fail - but to stand tall and move forward in Him!

Again Jesus tells us, "GO into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" Mark 16:15

He tells us that, "repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." - Luke 24:47

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." - John 20:21

Lastly he tells us ...
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." - Acts 8:1

These verses clearly tell me what my/our mission is - we are so NOT to sit back and let others do ... we are the others - we are to be doers, no merely hearers - we have the Holy Spirit and our assignment - Our playing field is HUGE!

To ignore this would be disobedience!
Ezekiel 3:18 (NCV) says it best ...
You must warn them so they may live. If you don't speak out to warn the wicked to stop their evil ways, they will die in their sin. But I will hold you responsible for their death.

OUCH!

This makes it very clear - no question on what my responsibility is! To go out and do the work of Father, representing Him ALWAYS. So this makes GOD in a sense my employer and this gives me the employee the confidence that he will give me, guide me and teach me all His ways - for success is our goal - Success in reaching all His people to the ends of this earth.

The great thing is we can share God right where we are at. Just ask, "God, who have you put in my life for me to tell about Jesus?"

Don't waste the life God has given you ..."anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God" - Luke 9:62 (LB)

I tell God often, "less of me more of you - none of me all of you." I must leave my plans for my life behind and line up with the plans that God has set before me, "Father, I want your will not mine"
I must learn to pray, "God, help me do what you are blessing" NOT "God bless what I want to do."

We must do as Romans 6:13b says, "but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness."

So in closing I want to leave you with this - First a must read, Purpose Driven Life if you have not already read it - and if you have - read it again - The story Rick Warren tells of his father who is dying of cancer and his last thing that he says was ... "Save One More For Jesus"

That is what we need to make as our mission "Save One More For Jesus"

Jesus gave his life for you and me on the cross so that we might live - How wrong is it for us not to share His story, His Love, His Sacrifice with others through our own testimony?