Don't Be a Missionary Who isn't on Mission

Everyone wants to know why they've been placed here on earth. Even if people don't think about it constantly or even often, there are times when things get slow or quiet and they begin to think, "is this it? Is this what my life is supposed to be about?"

Here's some good news - I CAN tell you why you're here: you are here to bring glory to God with your life. In everything you do, day in and day out - work, home, neighborhood, ballfields - whatever, it all begins with you living your life in such a way that it glorifies Jesus. You will never see success in your individual mission until you begin to live this truth out in your life.

What is your individual mission? What is it that makes your heart beat fast? Can God be glorified in it? If the answer is "yes", then it is quite possible that God wants to use this mission to use you to bring Him glory.

But there is a warning I must issue to those who find their mission: Don't lose the meaning of your mission.

Our message this week explored the spiritual implication in the movie "Book of Eli". In a scene a conversation takes place between Eli and Solara after Eli gives Carnegie the book to save Solara's life: 

Solara: I'm sorry

Eli: for what.

Solara: for this, this is all my fault. If I didn't come with you none of this would have happened

Eli: it's not your fault - I did what I had to do.

Solara: I didn't think ANYTHING could make you give up that book - I thought it was too important

Eli: You know, all the years I've been carrying it and reading it everyday, I got so caught up with keeping it safe that I forgot to live by what i learned from it.

Solara: yeah? what's that?

Eli: do for others more than you do for yourself - that's what I got from it anyway.

I have been that guy. The one who was so intent on being incredible IN ministry that I forgot to DO ministry. The one who read the Bible only to immediately react to someone in a way that proves I read without application. The guy who knows I'm to love my neighbor in the same way that I love me only to pass judgement on said neighbor without knowing the facts (or even knowing them).

You know, it is possible to become so enamored with mission work that you forget to do the work of the mission you're on.

Don't be a missionary who isn't on mission. Let's remember the meaning behind our mission.

Comments

[Andrew Bowen]

Check and mate.

[mike p]

(grin)