“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10: 12 – 14)
The great missionary of another generation, William Carey, quoted this passage in the introduction to his “Enquiry” (1792) setting out the justification for his commitment to mission. He goes on to say: “As our blessed Lord has required us to pray that his kingdom may come, and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven, it becomes us not only to express our desires of that event by words, but to use every lawful method to spread the knowledge of his name.” He later concludes: “Our own countrymen have the means of grace, and may attend on the word preached if they so choose. They have the means of knowing the truth and faithful ministers…; but with them [people in other lands] the case is widely different. They have no Bible, no written language, no ministers, no good civil government, nor any of the advantages that we have. Humanity and Christianity call loudly for every possible exertion to introduce the gospel among them.” How does that remain true more than 200 years later? Do those words still apply to many situations in our world today? How do we view the call to world mission in our generation?
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22: 37-39)
Mike Bickle in his book “The Pleasures of Loving God” acknowledges that it is absolutely necessary for us as Christians to embrace Jesus’s mandate to reach out to people and touch the nations. He goes on to say however, that whether we are involved in mission, evangelism, Bible study, apologetics for our faith, or just working away within our church structures and systems, our first priority is always to be lovers of God. He continues: “The Great Commission was spoken from the heart of our Father God to a bride who is ordained to partner with the Son of God. It was spoken to the Church to be a lover partner, whose work would flow out of the energy of divine romance through hearts energized with love. …By the end of the age, evangelism will be accomplished as the overflow of a lover in partnership with her Bridegroom God. We won’t consider it sacrifice, but a privilege. We will work in the fields of harvest with hearts that are absolutely lovesick with desire for the Lord of the Harvest.” Lord, teach us to love.
“As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” (John 17: 18, 19)
Rick Warren, in The Purpose Driven Life, says that all Christians were made for a mission. God is at work in the world, Rick writes, and He wants us to join Him. Rick goes on to draw the distinction that we have both a ministry to other believers and a mission to those that are outside of God’s family. Fulfilling our mission in the world is one of God’s great purposes for our lives. We are the body of Christ, sent by Jesus into the world to continue the work that he started. We are not sent out alone but equipped by the Holy Spirit for that task. As we particularly focus on mission and as we think of those who have gone to serve God in other places, and thus fulfilling God’s mission for them, maybe we need to ask ourselves about our own situation. What is my mission? What may be holding me back from fulfilling the mission that God made me to accomplish? Are we prepared to stand before God and say to Him “Mission Accomplished!”