Commissioned for a Mission

Scripture: “And then He told them, Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Mark 16:15.

 Did you know that when you become a Christian, you also accept commission as a missionary? That might not be how we traditionally think of it, but God’s love is so intense and strong that once you’ve made it part of your life, you can’t help but share it! Besides that, we want to do what God expects of us:in the Gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus told His followers,“…make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.”(Matthew 28:19-20);                                  

How Do I Start?

With prayer, always with prayer. St Paul wrote, “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” (Colossians 4:2) Communicate with God; He wants to hear from you and share your life. Have a conversation with Him by praying and reading the Bible or fellowshipping with other believers. Work on discerning His will for you, and strive to fulfill it.

God calls all of us to share Jesus with the world, and our responsibility is to listen and answer Him with a “yes.” Pray for and with an open mind and an open heart. Then be prepared to serve and go and serve again.

 He gives His people many ways of missioning. Even if you never actually talk to someone about the Good News, they might be watching you, and your Christian lifestyle becomes an example to them. You might be called to share words about God’s love in your family, with friends or coworkers, in your neighborhood, etc. Maybe you’ll end up sharing God’s love online, even with intentional online missions. Your mission field is “your own backyard.” God also has “job openings” in other ways. Churches and missions organizations use many methods to get people to get the Good News to other people!                                

Supporting and Sending

Jesus told His Disciples, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you.” (John 20:21) As part of your God-given mission, you might be called upon to follow Jesus’s example of sending others physically out into the world on intentional missions experiences. Ways to serve include prayer support, financial support, and material support.

Any Christian can fulfill a part of their commission by praying. St. Paul requested from his friends in Thessalonica, “Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes... Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people… The Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from evil.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-3) Those who spread God’s Word and share His love are not well-liked by the forces of evil! So it is important that they are being prayed over. The Bible tells us that “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”(James 5:16)

Sharing financial support is one of the easiest ways to help send out a missionary. It can be a joy to work on your ministry through giving, and it is a God-honoring action. God can use whatever we can share: “…give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) And when we are generous with the Lord’s work, He is generous with us: “Honor God with everything you own; give Him the first and the best. Your barns will burst; your wine vats will brim over.” (Proverbs 3:9-10) The more you give, the more God will give you.

Finally, offering material support to send a missionary is similar to providing financial support – it’s still giving, but rather than money, you can give “stuff.” When you provide for someone’s physical needs, it is as though you are physically missioning yourself. As the Lord taught, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew  6:21)

A Most Important Mission

 It’s a pretty big job that we’ve agreed to do, but that is what love is about!  As Christians, we can trust God to teach us about our own strengths and weaknesses.  We can offer ourselves and our skills for God to use to His glory

St. Paul wrote, “Your body has many parts — limbs, organs, cells — but … you’re still one body.  It’s exactly the same with Christ.  By means of His one Spirit, we … entered into a large and integrated life in which He has the final say in everything.”  “A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge.  It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together.”  “God has carefully placed each part of the body right where He wanted it. … no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of.”  “Christ’s church is a complete Body and not … not all Apostle, not all Prophet, not all Miracle Worker.”  (condensed from 1 Corinthians 12:12-31)

So find out what part of the body you are.  Where and how does God want you to be missioning?  He gifted us all differently, so we can all serve in the way He wants us to – and we’ll most likely deeply enjoy something He has created us for.  Find out where you “fit in” to help complete the Great Commission              

“Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved."  But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him?  And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him?  And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?  And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?”  (Romans 10:13-15)