Living on Mission
One of the clearest themes running through the pages of Scripture is that God's people are never meant to simply exist in the world—they are sent into it.
From the calling of Abraham to the commission of the disciples, from the prophets in exile to the early church scattered across the Roman Empire, God's people have always been called to live with purpose. Jesus made that purpose unmistakably clear. We are here to help people discover and respond to the God who loves them.
The Gospels reveal this repeatedly. The words of Jesus, the culture He created among His followers, and the mission He entrusted to the Church all point in the same direction: we have been sent to bring the hope of Christ to a world that desperately needs Him.
This mission is not our ultimate goal. Our ultimate goal is the glory of God. Yet one of the greatest ways we bring glory to God is by inviting others to know, worship, and enjoy Him as well. Every person reconciled to God becomes another voice in the eternal song of praise.
It is little wonder that Charles Spurgeon once wrote, "Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter." The statement is intentionally provocative, but it captures an important truth: following Jesus has always involved joining Him in His mission.
Because this calling is so significant, it deserves more than a casual place in our lives. It deserves our highest priority.
When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, He replied:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)
Following Jesus has always been an all-of-life response. Our emotions, our intellect, and our will are all invited into a wholehearted relationship with Him. The same is true when it comes to living on mission.
The Apostle Paul captures this beautifully:
"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
Notice how Paul engages every part of who we are.
Christ's love compels us.
Mission begins in the heart. We do not share our faith merely because we have been assigned a task. We do so because we have encountered a Savior whose love has transformed us. His love moves us. It stirs compassion for those who do not yet know Him. It creates a holy burden that refuses to remain silent.
We are convinced.
Mission also engages the mind. Paul speaks of deep conviction. He has thought about the realities of eternity. He understands the significance of the Gospel. He knows what is at stake. The more clearly we see the beauty of Christ and the needs of the world around us, the more convinced we become that the Gospel truly is good news.
We no longer live for ourselves.
Finally, mission engages the will. At some point, conviction must become action. Paul reminds us that our lives no longer belong solely to us. We have been redeemed for a purpose. We are called to order our priorities, decisions, relationships, and opportunities around the mission of the One who sent us.
Heart. Mind. Will.
Compelled. Convinced. Committed.
This is what missionary living looks like.
As we prepare to begin our upcoming series, Being Brave in Babylon, this truth becomes even more important. Daniel and his friends lived in a culture that did not share their values, beliefs, or convictions. Yet they did not retreat, complain, or compromise. They lived faithfully and courageously in the very place God had positioned them. The same is true for us.
We may not live in ancient Babylon, but we do live in a world where following Jesus increasingly requires courage. The call is not simply to survive the culture around us. It is to faithfully represent Christ within it. To love well. To stand firm. To serve others. And to point people toward the King whose kingdom will outlast every earthly empire.
Perhaps the question we should ask ourselves is this:
Am I living as someone who has been sent?
Because wherever God has placed you—your neighborhood, workplace, school, team, or family—He has not positioned you there by accident. You are there on mission.
From the calling of Abraham to the commission of the disciples, from the prophets in exile to the early church scattered across the Roman Empire, God's people have always been called to live with purpose. Jesus made that purpose unmistakably clear. We are here to help people discover and respond to the God who loves them.
The Gospels reveal this repeatedly. The words of Jesus, the culture He created among His followers, and the mission He entrusted to the Church all point in the same direction: we have been sent to bring the hope of Christ to a world that desperately needs Him.
This mission is not our ultimate goal. Our ultimate goal is the glory of God. Yet one of the greatest ways we bring glory to God is by inviting others to know, worship, and enjoy Him as well. Every person reconciled to God becomes another voice in the eternal song of praise.
It is little wonder that Charles Spurgeon once wrote, "Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter." The statement is intentionally provocative, but it captures an important truth: following Jesus has always involved joining Him in His mission.
Because this calling is so significant, it deserves more than a casual place in our lives. It deserves our highest priority.
When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, He replied:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)
Following Jesus has always been an all-of-life response. Our emotions, our intellect, and our will are all invited into a wholehearted relationship with Him. The same is true when it comes to living on mission.
The Apostle Paul captures this beautifully:
"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
Notice how Paul engages every part of who we are.
Christ's love compels us.
Mission begins in the heart. We do not share our faith merely because we have been assigned a task. We do so because we have encountered a Savior whose love has transformed us. His love moves us. It stirs compassion for those who do not yet know Him. It creates a holy burden that refuses to remain silent.
We are convinced.
Mission also engages the mind. Paul speaks of deep conviction. He has thought about the realities of eternity. He understands the significance of the Gospel. He knows what is at stake. The more clearly we see the beauty of Christ and the needs of the world around us, the more convinced we become that the Gospel truly is good news.
We no longer live for ourselves.
Finally, mission engages the will. At some point, conviction must become action. Paul reminds us that our lives no longer belong solely to us. We have been redeemed for a purpose. We are called to order our priorities, decisions, relationships, and opportunities around the mission of the One who sent us.
Heart. Mind. Will.
Compelled. Convinced. Committed.
This is what missionary living looks like.
As we prepare to begin our upcoming series, Being Brave in Babylon, this truth becomes even more important. Daniel and his friends lived in a culture that did not share their values, beliefs, or convictions. Yet they did not retreat, complain, or compromise. They lived faithfully and courageously in the very place God had positioned them. The same is true for us.
We may not live in ancient Babylon, but we do live in a world where following Jesus increasingly requires courage. The call is not simply to survive the culture around us. It is to faithfully represent Christ within it. To love well. To stand firm. To serve others. And to point people toward the King whose kingdom will outlast every earthly empire.
Perhaps the question we should ask ourselves is this:
Am I living as someone who has been sent?
Because wherever God has placed you—your neighborhood, workplace, school, team, or family—He has not positioned you there by accident. You are there on mission.
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