Define Misson
The prophet Micah helps us define mission in this way; to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
We shape our lives by how we define words such as kindness, justice, and humility. We define words by identifying essentials, setting boundaries, and focusing on specific qualities. Our personal definitions are clearly displayed through our words and, mainly, our actions.
I want to challenge you to define mission. If you are at a loss on how to define mission in your life, answer this question: What makes you say “yes” when everyone else says “no?
Consider these mission definitions:
To serve love
Outreach to others
Fancy term for being a fisher of men
Do good, share love, and bring joy
Anytime you share God's love with other people
Tour guide, showing them the way
Putting your faith into action
Mission means vision of attaining the goals of eternity
Service with a purpose
Christian mission is an interaction between Christian individuals and others in which beneficial humanitarian work by the Christians helps the others to understand Christ's love.
For some people, mission is the investment of their time and skills to roof a house for a neighbor in need. For others, mission unfolds through playing an instrument, providing pro-bono counseling, or preaching the good news. For still others, mission involves tutoring math after school, teaching budget skills, or showing a person how to grow the best tomato. The mission possibilities in meeting a need in the world are endless.
If you are a person of faith, be sure to include words that display the transforming love of God in your life—for Christians, thoughts and actions rest in Christ’s identity. Once you define life within the context of faith, you will know which options to embrace and which to decline in your faith journey.
As God’s love takes root in your life, it expands and overflows into the lives of others. Watch how faithful love leads your humble steps toward justice in the world.
Spiritual Resources
Scriptures
Hear what the Lord says:
Rise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice.
Hear, you mountains, the case of the Lord,
and you enduring foundations of the earth,
for the Lord has a case against his people,
and he will contend with Israel.
“O my people, what have I done to you?
In what have I wearied you? Answer me!
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt
and redeemed you from the house of slavery,
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised,
what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.”
“With what shall I come before the Lord
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
He has told you, O mortal, what is good,
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice and to love kindness
and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:1-8, New Revised Standard Version
Reflections
What makes you say “yes” when everyone else says “no?
Write your definition of mission. Keep the definition concise. Focus on the power of each word.
What aspects of how others participate in mission encourage you to live out mission in your life?
Quotes
The scriptures say that where two or more are gathered, Jesus is there. Mission is when two, three, or one hundred people are working to find the path together. Mission can be with a very lonely wealthy person. It is when you are learning about someone else, and you are accepting where they come from. You are inviting yourself into that space to bring people closer together. That is why Jesus was here. Cindy Corell, Global Mission Worker for PC(USA)
Go where you're sent. Stay where you're put. Unpack, as if you're never going to leave. And give what you've got. This is our job. Every day. Until we are told to go, we stay. The Ministry of Ordinatry Places: Waking Up to God's Goodness Around You by Shannon Martin
Every Christian is created for mission. In different ways, we are all created to make disciples, wherever we live and wherever God leads .Something Needs to Change A Call to Make Your Life Count in a World of Urgent Need by David Platt
Prayer
Gracious God, In the stillness, we know that you are God.
We breathe in your grace and struggle to respond with the right words, holy words, in restoring our relationship with you and neighbor. And yet you meet us in this space time and time again. You hold us tight in your faithful arms as we admit our failures, unload our worries, and release our burdens. As your goodness surrounds us, and your mercy flows new life into our bones, our sins are cast into the sea - forgotten and forgiven - setting us free to love and serve you.
In the holy sighs, we know that you are God. We breathe in your justice and struggle to find the right words, the holy words, in response to the tragedies and turmoils of our world.
We breathe in your healing and become aware of the groanings rumbling in creation and throughout humanity.
We breathe in your eternal life and resolve to follow you all our days. Between the rising and setting sun, bless our hands to show your love, bless our minds to know your will, and bless our faith through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Video