Mission. June 6, 1944 is a day many will never forget as it represents D-Day, the day U.S.A. and Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normand, France for a major mission of World War 2. On July 20, 1969 the USA successfully accomplished the Apollo 11 mission of putting a man on the moon. More recently, on May 1, 2011 a highly secretive mission was conducted in pursuit of Osama Bin Laden. All of these pale in comparison to the greatest mission ever conceived. Jesus told His disciples shortly before He ascended into heaven “to go and make disciples of all nations.” How can we do that in a practical sense today?
First, it is important to state that the single greatest give Christians can give to the people around them is an introduction to the God who created them, who loves them, and who has a purpose for their life. This is what our mission is, constantly watching for ways to give that gift to someone living away from God.
As Christians it is important to keep this mission the top priority of our lives. It is easy to get side-tracked, to get distracted, or get too busy. It is easy for us to allow our churches to become very inward focused rather than outward focused. We must combat this and we can when we keep our focus on our mission.
Second, we must realize that in our culture today the best way to introduce people to God is through personal relationships. We must intentionally be investing in relationships with the purpose of inviting people to begin a relationship with Jesus. Yes, that means we must spend time with the lost. But then again, isn’t that what Jesus did?
I understand the fear in this. Many people fear the questions that may come from non-Christians. Many fear their need to be a theologian to be able to explain all the truths of the Scriptures. One of my favorite passages of Scripture in regard to this is John chapter 9. Jesus had just healed a man that had been blind since his birth. The religious leaders of the day really began questioning this guy making accusations about Jesus, even calling Him a sinner. The man who was formerly blind replies, “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” John 9:25 (NLT)
This is our model for introducing people to Jesus … simply telling our story. I once was blind, but now I see. That is amazing grace. You too have a story to tell. If you have come into relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, then you have a wonderful, redemptive story to tell. Here is why that is true … regardless of how old you were when you came to faith, hopefully you were different before Christ than you are after Christ invaded your world and beautifully wrecked it with things like grace and
mercy and love.
Take the blind man from John 9. Can you imagine what that experience was like for him? What do you think he told every single person who would listen to him from that point forward? I was blind, but then I met Christ and now I see! Here is the point, for the vast majority of you reading this the same is true for you. You have a before and an after. That is your story. That is how you relationally introduce others to the Christ you know and love.
Why don’t you practice? In a couple hundred words or less, write out your life before you met Jesus Christ, tell a little about the experience of meeting Him, and then mention how your life is different now. Remember to use language that people will understand. You are not trying to impress them, you are simply introducing them to who should be your best friend. It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space. 1 Corinthians 14:9 (NLT)
Feel free to post it in the comments section for others to read.
May we never forget our mission!
God bless!
Randy Harp 