My Mission Statement

Note:  I apologize for posting two devotions today and none yesterday, but traveling has disorganized my schedule, such as it was!  — HN

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”        Luke 19:10 (NIV)

Do you think this was Jesus’ mission statement?  Seems a little simple and straightforward, doesn’t it? Mission statements usually have multi-syllable words and several commas and semi-colons to connect descriptive phrases.  This translation shows only single-syllable words!  I’ll have to ask Henry if it is as simple in the Greek and Aramaic.  (LOL)

What is my mission statement?  Yes, there is the Great Commission:

“…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…”    Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

And the Greatest Commandments:

R20;R17;Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’…’Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”                                      Matthew 22:37, 39-40 (NIV, my emphasis)

But God has given each of us who has made the decision to be a disciple a mission.  He gave us gifts and talents for the mission.  He gives us one-on-one time to teach and equip every day if we will only make that our priority.  He gives us leaders and partners to work together on missions…I believe each fellowship has a mission and it is for me as an individual to connect with that fellowship where I can be used and where I can learn and grow.

God’s mission for me will “hang on” to the Great Commission and Greatest Commandments.  It will be about His kingdom and give Him glory.   James said it will be about works AND faith. (James 2) Peter says I shouldn’t be surprised if it involves suffering. (1 Peter 4)  Paul reminds me that I will produce fruit with God’s mission because God’s mission will not be about me. (Galatians 5)

So I look at the gifts and talents God has given.  I look at what stirs my heart when I do it in obedience to God.  I look at what has produced good fruit.  The mission may never produce a Medal of Honor (or any other kind of recognition) in this world but if I am quiet before my Lord, if I “walk humbly with my God”, I will hear God’s sweet words meant just for me and I will feel His strengthening hand upon me – and I’ll keep going.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.            Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

What is your mission?