Life on a Mission

            What are we doing with our lives?  This week we were blessed with the opportunity to hear from David Marvin as he talked about devoting our resources, talents, time and treasures to do His will.  We must keep in mind that we are the stewards of the church for our generation.  We have been entrusted the message of eternal life; of the good news of the Gospel.  It is up to us to decide whether we are going to leave the church better or worse than we found it. 

            Often times, we see mission trips as getting on a plane, going over seas or across the country, finding a small colony of people who may or may not have heard the message before… But what we don’t realize is that there are people around us every day that are yearning to hear about the love of God.  You don’t need to go on a mission trip… You’re already on one. 

            One of the greatest evils in today’s world is the dead church.  When a group of people meet together once a week to praise God, but are not living out the word of God on a daily basis, they are not setting a good representation of God, or the life we are called to live as Christians.  It is not that they do not have faith, but they are irregular Christians; not living the way we are called to live- bringing glory and honor to Him. 

            We are called to be athletes, shepherds, warriors, and farmers... not regular church attenders.  We are meant to live LIVES that reflect the love of Christ through seeking His will, not just attend church each week, and put our hands up as an act of worship to God.  Rather, we are called to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1).  We are to do everything in the name of the Lord in order to give all the glory to God.  (Colossians 3:17)  We are called to be ambassadors of God’s kingdom here on earth.  We must represent Him well!  (2 Corinthians 5:20)

            In order to be successful as a bondservant of Christ you must know who you are, be who you are, and like who you are… because that’s all that you are. 

            David Marvin stressed the importance of knowing Jesus’s mission statement in order to follow him as best we can.  We did this by looking at Luke chapter 19; Jesus’s encounter with Zacchaeus.  Zacchaeus was a tax collector.  Culturally, that was almost like treason to his people- the Jews.  Rome had placed a tax on the Jewish people in order to continue practicing Judaism.  However, the Jews would not willing pay a Roman soldier, so they hired Jews willing to cheat their friends and families out of their money in order to support the Roman government that everyone hated.  When Jesus made a point to talk to Zacchaeus and even eat dinner at his house, other people present, specifically Pharisees, began to get angry.  They were jealous that Jesus was spending his time with a man as sinful as Zaccheaus.  In verse 10, Jesus makes known his purpose in this.  He said, “For the son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”

 In Matthew 9, Jesus explains this further.  He is eating dinner with Matthew and many tax collectors and sinners come in to see him.  The Pharisees begin to questions his motives, asking why he eats with sinners.  Jesus responds in verses 12-13, “On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  Jesus came to seek and to save those whom are lost.  We are called to be like Jesus.  If this was his purpose, shouldn’t it be ours too? 

An atheistic magician, Penn Jillette of the famous duo Penn & Teller, posted a video expressing his opinion of evangelism.  Although he still claimed he knew there was no God, he did bring some interesting insight into the importance of evangelism… He said, “How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?”  It is our mission to seek and save all that are lost.  In the words of my (not so) beloved band director Mr. Peterson, “If not you, then who? If not now, then when?” Why should you expect that it is someone else’s responsibility to share the good news of the gospel with someone around you?  How do you know you’ll be given another chance?  We are not promised any more time on earth.  Something could happen at any point in time that could put us on the judgment seat before we know it.  And when that time comes, what will you tell God?  That you kept meaning to tell your friends/family/co-workers/the girl at Starbucks about Him?  That you were intending to be more open about your faith?  Life is not about good intentions.  It’s about actions. 

            We need to stand up and be all that God needs us to be.  The church is only dead because it isn’t full of those who are alive!  If we can learn to be dead to ourselves and alive in Christ, we will be capable of incredible things.  There is a historical pattern in the United States in which a great revival takes place every 50 years, and it just so happens that the last revival took place almost 50 years ago.  These revivals almost always start with the youth.  It’s our turn to step up and be leaders in the church.  We can’t keep expecting things to happen for us; it’s time to let things happen through us. 

            David Marvin gave us a list of Five C’s to be a man or woman of God:

1.)           Committed to God’s word- In Paul’s final letter, 2 Timothy, he stresses the importance of scripture.  In Mark 2:32-35, Jesus wakes up early to spend time alone with the father.  Scripture is important.  It is the best method we have of hearing what God has to say about our lives. 

2.)           Committed to God’s people- Acts 2:47, we see the early church, the body of believers meeting together day by day to hold each other accountable and go through life together.  (Also, Hebrews 3:12-13)  Life change happens in circles, not in rows.  It’s easier to grow when you can be open with those around you. 

3.)           Creative expression of the Gospel- 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Paul speaks of the different ways he relates to people in order to best explain the Gospel of Christ to them.   We are called to dream big in the name of Jesus in order that we might win some over to his name. 

4.)           Committed to the uncommitted- Acts 2:37-39 God’s promise was made not only for you, but also for everyone around you.  Our goal is to reach people, and if we have to ruffle some feathers to do so, so be it.   We are following God’s will- to seek and save what is lost. 

5.)           Contribute time, talents, and treasures- what can we contribute to the kingdom?  1 peter 4:10 clearly states that we are to use the gifts that we have been given in order to be good stewards of God’s grace. 

This week has been one of my favorites so far this year.  It is such a good reminder of our true calling as Christ followers. 

Tomorrow, our class leaves for Northern Ireland for the entire month of February.  Prayers are much appreciated for safe travels and also for good health as there has been a pretty nasty virus spreading around campus.  I’ll be sure to post some highlights and pictures when I have a spare minute!! 

“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” – Ephesians 6:19-20