Mission of God
How is God sending you? What is your mission as a follower of Jesus? What is God sending you out to do?
All of us have a mission as followers of Jesus. We are participators in the kingdom work of God in the world.
God calls us to do the work, he equips us to do the work, he gives us authority to do the work, and he sends us out to do the work he has given us to do to impact the world.
Mark’s Gospel tells us that Jesus “called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.” (Mark 6:7, ESV).
God gives us one another and his power and authority over the evil in the world. We do not serve God alone and we do not serve God without access to adequate resources.
Jesus called his disciples to trust in him for their daily provision. “He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.” (Mark 6:8-9, ESV).
Just as the disciples were dependent upon God to accomplish the mission of God, we are also to rely upon God in faith and trust that he will give us everything we need, when we need it, in order to effectively serve him and to do his kingdom work in the world.
As servants of God who are sharing the good news with others, we are to direct our time and attention to where it is most effective and where we, and the message of God, are gladly welcomed and received.
Jesus said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” (Mark 6:10-11, ESV).
Like these early disciples, we are to rely on the hospitality of others and to share the good news of Jesus as we are welcomed to do so, as we are received and as the good news is received. When we are no longer being heard or welcomed, we are to move on to the next place and back to the purpose of God.
Mark concludes by telling us that the disciples obeyed Jesus’ instruction and “They went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.” (Mark 6:12-13, ESV).
As the disciples were faithful in the mission, as they obeyed and were sent out, they communicated God’s message of repentance and defeated the evil around them, sharing the good news, and healing those who were sick.
Just as these disciples were faithful and effective in the mission of God, we are also called to be faithful in the mission of God and to go and do the work that God has set before us to do, trusting that our faithful God will accomplish his mission and he will see us and his work through to completion.
May we be obedient in God’s call to follow his commission and mission for our lives as we do the kingdom work of God in the world.
In Christ alone, Robbie
A Prayer For Mission: “Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the Cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
