15: Mission

PRAY: God connect with me here, as I seek you in your Word.

Read: Luke4.16-21

Imagine the scene: Jesus back in his home town, where he grew up as a boy and learned the builder’s trade. Someone says to him, “So, what are you doing with yourself these days?”

Here, in the synagogue, he answers the question. He unrolls the scroll and reads from Isaiah 61.1,2. This, says Jesus, is the Jubilee, the year of the Lord’s favor, the year of forgiveness, the expression of God’s love for the poor. It is Jesus’ plan, his job description, his statement of intent. He has come to bring good news for all who suffer—the poor, the imprisoned, and the blind. He sets the pattern and calls people to the banquet with God.

But Jesus brings more to the party. Good news for the poor can also include someone to lift them out of poverty. Good news for the homeless is the love of God—and a roof over their heads. As followers of Jesus, this is our mission. We tell people about the saving love of Jesus, and we show them what he is like.

REFLECT

Envision your special mission as a follower of Jesus. How can you live in a Christ-like manner so that He will be exalted and your light will shine in dark places?

RESPOND

Write out your mission statement or manifesto, and then put it into action for 21 days. By that time it should become second nature to you.

Discussion Point: In what ways can you personally share the Good News with your family, friends, co-workers or even people that you don’t know?  This says “the expression of God’s love for the poor”. How can showing God’s love to the spiritually poor open the door for sharing the Good News? What “expressions of love” can you think of to meet the needs of those around you that might become a door to share the Gospel?