Last month I spoke about the mission of Jesus and how important it is to Him. I wanted to inspire people to likewise prioritize Jesus’ mission by reminding them of how great a salvation we have in Christ. We have been justified by faith alone! Click here to check out Pastor Brian’s previous devotional on Moody Radio.

Today I’d like to share some thoughts from the Bible about what it looks like to so elevate Jesus’ mission in our lives. When we talk about the mission of Jesus in the world you might think missionary, pastor, evangelist or seminary professor. These are not what I have in mind. Or at least not the only things I have in mind.

I believe the Great Commission found in Matthew 28 is both enduring and universal. Jesus tells His disciples in verses 19-20 “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…”

Let me first make the case that it is enduring, it is still Jesus’ purpose and mission today. At the end of that commission in verse 20 Jesus spoke the final words recorded by Matthew, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Has the age ended? I don’t think so. I think Jesus refers to His victorious return when He says the “end of the age” and that hasn’t happened. Which means this is still, today, in the Quad Cities and everywhere on Planet Earth the mission and purpose of Jesus for His disciples. His mission is still our mission today; it endures to the end of the age.

Now let me argue it is universal, for every Christian. Some might argue that He was only speaking to His 11 disciples who were present there with Him. Are they still alive today? Nope! They all died carrying out Jesus’ mission. So, if the Great Commission were only for the original 11, the mission is over.

Either the Great Commission of Jesus is universal, applying to every Christian, or it’s dead.

Obviously it’s not dead!

Notice the Great Commission does not say “make converts.” Or make fans…spectators…make consumers. He did not commission us to fill the baptistry and the pews.

No, Jesus said make disciples! A disciple is a follower of Christ. Specifically, He said make disciples and teach them to obey everything I commanded you. And what is the last thing Jesus commanded His disciples?

The Great Commission, “Go make disciples of all the nations…until the end of the age.” We can’t say that we’ve taught disciples to obey every command of Jesus if we haven’t taught them to obey the Great Commission. My argument, then, is that the Great Commission is the mission of every disciple for all time until the end of the age.

That doesn’t mean every Christian has to go into full-time ministry or sell everything and move to the unreached people groups around the world. For some, that’s absolutely what it means. And every Christian should hear the Lord’s caution in http://fabcare.com/fantastic-electives-for-homeschooled-high/ Luke 16:24, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me,” and His rebuke in http://kirstincronn-mills.com/?feed=rss2 Matthew 10:38, “and whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”

From the mouth of Jesus, being a disciple means denying yourself, taking up your cross and saying, “Lord, your will be done, not mine.” That’s what it means to “confess Jesus is Lord.” Every follower of Christ comes to Him with his life in open hands. Where do you want me to go and what do you want me to do, Lord?

For some, Jesus requires everything – job, home, family, health, freedom, even life itself. And it will be worth it. Jesus, Peter, and Paul all promise this! It will be worth the greatest sacrifices.

But what about for the rest of His disciples? The disciples Jesus allows to keep their homes, keep their jobs, raise their kids, enjoy their hobbies? How do the rest of His disciples live this out?

Here are 7 ways every disciple can to be on mission with Jesus…

1. In our Job

Whether you’re in the ministry, workforce, school, or home, Paul says in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” In the Greek, that word “whatever” means “whatever.” All your work should be done for the Lord regardless what line of work you’re in.

Why? Jesus said, “They will see your good works and give glory to the Father.” This may not be limited to our occupation, but it certainly does not preclude it. When people know you’re a Christian and you’re a hard-working, diligent, respectful, dependable person, that has an impact. It glorifies our Heavenly Father.

2. In our Parenting

Parents, you are raising potential disciples. Every Christian parent should desire and pray that their children become faithful followers of Christ as of first priority. More than I want my kids to be successful in business or get a great education, I want them to love Jesus and follow Him.

Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” Fathers, that verse is specifically to you, but it does not release mothers from the task. The assumption is that fathers will lead and mothers will support. Where the father is not leading or is absent, moms you’ve got to step into that. Sometimes it’s the grandparents that have to fill that gap. Do it! The Lord uses fathers and mothers and grandparents to draw our children to Himself.

3. In our Marriage

One of the most impactful means of reaching our children is through a godly marriage. In Ephesians 5, Paul says that a husband is to love his wife like Christ loves the church and the wife is to love her husband the way the church submits to Christ.

Our marriage relationship is a living, walking, talking illustration of the Gospel. Our children see it; our grandchildren see it. Our friends and neighbors see it. Our fellow church members see it. When a husband consistently lays down his life for his wife and his wife consistently has a heart of submission to her husband, the marriage thrives and the gospel is lived out before people’s eyes. The opposite is also true, which is sobering. Ungodly marriages hurt the gospel’s influence.

4. In our Church

I hope and pray that your listeners are all part of a local church because the mission of the church of taking the gospel to all the nations requires the participation of every part of the body.

1 Corinthians 12 reminds us that the body has many members and no member can say to another, “I don’t need you.” Nor can a member say to the collective body, “you don’t need me and therefore I’ll just sit on the sideline.”

Jesus’ mission is to grow the kingdom of God which means the church should be growing. It should be reaching people with the Gospel, integrating them into the body, equipping them to serve the Lord, and sending them out to make more disciples, serving within the church and outside in myriad ways; helping the church fulfill it’s mission.

5. In our Giving

The mission of the church requires every member getting on mission and it also requires faithful giving. Now, before anyone rolls their eyes, thinking “of course the pastor is going to talk about giving,” let me assure you, Jesus spoke more about money than He did about heaven and hell combined.

Jesus positions money, of all things, as the chief alternative to God when He said, “you cannot serve two masters – God and money.” So, we can’t treat this subject like it’s taboo. It’s an accurate barometer of our spiritual condition.

 Besides that Paul said in 2 Corinthians 9:11, “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” He also says, “the Lord loves a cheerful giver.”

What’s the principle here? It’s not that you have to give your money to God for Him to love you. No, in Christ, God loves you perfectly already.

Rather, the principle is that God has a mission in the world and He funnels money into the mission through His people. He wants you to cheerfully use the money He has generously supplied to you to bless other people.

He gives to us and He wants us to prioritize His kingdom with it. “Seek first the kingdom of God,” Jesus said when he was talking about anxiety over financial matters. He gives to us so that we can provide for the needs of the ministry of our church, of our missionaries, of our supported local ministries, and of individuals in need.

And according to verse 11, the result of this process of receiving from God and giving cheerfully is it produces “thanksgiving to God.” People’s souls get saved and lives get changed when God’s people use God’s money for God’s kingdom.

6. In our Suffering

Another way that the Lord gives to us so that we will give to others is the experience of suffering. Not many people enjoy suffering. Most avoid it at all costs, and I don’t particularly go looking for it.

But the Bible tells us that one of the byproducts of our suffering is that in our suffering we are comforted in order to comfort others. The Lord uses our suffering to train us to better relate and minister to other people who are suffering.

Listen to 1 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” When you suffer and you endure faithfully and you rely upon the comfort of God you are being trained to comfort other people.

When people are suffering and God sends someone who has endured suffering and who has received God’s comfort, there is great opportunity to share the hope that is within you, the hope of Christ.

One thing I know, most people are really hurting in some way or another.

7. In Every Social Interaction

Finally, I’ll conclude with a catch-all. In every social interaction, we have the potential to reach someone with the Gospel. Every conversation may not get to the point of a gospel presentation, but in the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”

Paul knew that God uses many people for a seed to be planted and become fruitful. You never know how the Lord might take a conversation that seems dull or ineffectual to you and cause it to bear the fruit of repentance and faith in that person’s heart.

Whether you’re at the grocery store, restaurant, gym, office, school, home, or wherever you are, the words of Paul and Peter are instructive, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29) and “in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

At Wildwood Church we have a vision statement that goes, “Every member a missionary – taking the Gospel across the street and around the world.” I would encourage your listeners that wherever you are right now, you are in your mission field. Do not take that lightly. You have the power to influence, whether for good or for evil. The Lord wants to use YOU to advance His kingdom…for His glory…in every sphere of your life! Amen?