Purpose 5 states that We Are Made for
Mission. A focus scripture for Day 37 of The Purpose
Driven Life is 1 Thess. 1:8, "Your lives are echoing the Master's
word.... The news of your faith in God is out. We don't have to say
anything anymore -- you're the message!"
Master, we want our lives to be the relevant message of
your Living Word!
We often think of the Christian life in terms of grace and
duty: salvation and its blessings are aspects of the grace
side, while mission, work and witness are seen as a duty, the
second part of our Christian identity.
It would seem, rather, that all our life arises from the first and central
purpose of worshipping God. The way that our Life touches others in the
world at large should be simply an expression of our worship of God, as our
attitudes and words invite our neighbors to join us in worshipping our
Lord! If we do think of evangelism as duty, the compulsion is
removed, since the focus is on God, not on my skill or
technique.
Outreach or mission is not so much activity as
attitude. I hope in God's grace
that my normal interaction in the world of daily activity will so
involve God that my Creator-Savior-Guide will touch and bless and call others
through me.
As we interact with neighbors and business people, let us resonate with
them in holy discernment of their need. Let our energies be yours,
Lord, as Christ to them, as our ignorance of them is engulfed by your
super-awareness.
Lord, I pray that our every action in life will be focused
on worship to you, including our mundane daily activities.
Redeem our every move in your directing grace and loving
outreach.
Father, may our every movement and word bring you
pleasure.
Spirit of the Risen Christ, fill us with your power.
But fill us also with your discernment. Oh Holy
Spirit, may we never grieve you by denying your presence or direction
in our interaction with your other creatures with whom we share your
world.
Jesus, let us be the ready channels of your grace, not as
religious artifacts drawing attention to ourselves, but as automatic valves of
ready grace to others in the normal dreary events of their graceless existence,
opening as needed in our natural cultural interactions.
Lord, have mercy on us, pour out on us your grace.
As we have received, thus richly may us give your grace. Let good
news flow through us and from us.
Your will be done!
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Orville Boyd Jenkins,
Ed.D., Ph.D.
Copyright © Orville Boyd Jenkins 2003
Permission granted for free download and transmission for personal or educational use. Other rights reserved.
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Meditation 9
Purpose 5: Mission. "We are Made for a
Mission"