The Mission of Christ
July 1, 2023 2023-07-01 8:02The Mission of Christ
Revlee The mission of Christ.
Luke 19:10
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (NIV)
Here we have the mission statement of Christ. He came to seek and to save the lost.
The calling upon our life is to take up His mission. He speaks to us the same seminal words as He did to the early disciples, “Follow me.” Our mission should be His mission and we must ask ourselves what it is we are living for. We are easily distracted and dissuaded from the mission. We have been strategically placed in different families, geographies, and social settings, but our mission remains.
The mission is pure benevolence, but the strategy is agonizing. We must take up our cross to follow Him and His mission.
People fight their Rescuer. Sin has blinded the eye from the need to be rescued and the way to deliverance. Loving God over self seems counterproductive to the sinful heart. The path to destruction rewards selfishness with pleasure, fame, and ease. Motivation for the rejection of self-gratification for a better way of self-restraining love for others is not easy. This can only be done through the most powerful force of love.
As Christ taught the way to salvation and the people became aware of their self-destructive behavior, they had to choose between God who calls for restraint, or the gluttony of sin. People rejected the Way and hated the One who brought conviction to their souls. And they will do the same to all who pursue His mission. To be on mission is to carry our cross loving those who hate us for teaching a truth that brings conviction to their wanton hearts.
To live on mission requires submission to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit who enables us to love more and more like Christ. The transformation into Christlikeness forms our spirit to be able to love to the level required for this mission. The double-edged sword of the Spirit cuts away what decimates our soul that we might live beyond the temporary bliss of decadent living to enjoy the glorious wonders of love, peace, contentment, and compassion. The mission of Christ liberates our soul from all that erodes to give us a life that far surpasses the hedonistic pursuit of the sinful nature.
The mission to seek and save the lost also saves us.
Prayer: Lord, help me focus on the mission You have given that I might help rescue others while You rescue me. Amen.
