JESUS OUR MISSION 8-15-26
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)
The Christian life is not merely about being saved from something. It is about being saved for something. We have been called to know Christ, follow Christ, and make Christ known. Jesus is not simply a part of our lives. He is our mission.
The church can become distracted by many things. Buildings, programs, traditions, personalities, arguments, politics, and even religious activity can occupy our attention. But none of these things is the great commission. Our commission is to make disciples. Our message is Christ. Our mission is Christ.
Jesus said, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21) Those words ought to change the way we look at every ordinary day. We are sent people. We are not merely sitting people. We are not spectators watching Christianity happen around us. We have been entrusted with a message that must be carried into a world that desperately needs it.
Paul understood this. His life could be summed up in one consuming purpose. “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) Christ was not simply what Paul preached. Christ was the reason he lived. His ambitions, sacrifices, travels, sufferings, and labors were all brought under the lordship of Jesus.
Our mission begins with our own relationship with Christ. We cannot effectively call others to follow someone we refuse to follow ourselves. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23) Before we can tell the world about the Savior, we must be willing to surrender ourselves to the Savior.
Then we must take His message to others. The Gospel is not ours to rewrite. It is not ours to soften until it becomes comfortable. It is not ours to hide because some may reject it. Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation.” (Romans 1:16) We are responsible for faithfully proclaiming the message. God is responsible for the results.
And our mission is not limited to a pulpit. Jesus sent His disciples into the world. That means the mission travels with us. It goes to our homes, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, our conversations, our friendships, and our communities. Every person we encounter is someone made in the image of God and someone who needs to hear about Christ.
There will always be reasons to wait. We will never have perfect circumstances. We will never know everything. We will never feel completely prepared. But Jesus did not say, “Go when you feel ready.” He said, “Go.” (Matthew 28:19)
The world does not need more Christians who are merely impressed by Jesus. It needs Christians who are surrendered to Jesus. It needs men and women who will carry His name, proclaim His truth, demonstrate His love, and refuse to be ashamed of His gospel.
Jesus is our message.
Jesus is our Master.
Jesus is our motive.
And Jesus is our mission.
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PRAYER
Lord Jesus, make us faithful servants of Your mission. Keep us from becoming distracted by things that do not matter eternally. Give us courage to speak Your truth, compassion to reach people, humility to serve them, and faithfulness to keep going when the work becomes difficult. Let our lives point people to You. Amen.
BDD
