Mission Possible
It’s far too easy to lose our way. We start off with a sense of purpose, we start off with a sense of direction, and we just lose our way. It’s a constant battle, because we live in a world that is constantly offering us substitutes. It is difficult to maintain our vision, it’s just real easy to get lost.
It’s clear to me that there are certain characteristics of a person who has lost their way. A person who has no sense of vision has a deep sense of discontentment, there’s an inner restlessness, out of that comes a sense of disappointment, then they blame their environment, things and people in their world.
Unfortunately, when a Christian loses his way, or loses her way, they begin contemplating things that at one point in their life, they never would have considered, things that in the past weren’t real temptations — just fleeting thoughts — become real temptations.
God created us with a specific purpose — we were made for one thing. When an individual loses sight of what that is, we lose our sense of purpose. And until your recognized purpose in life is the purpose to which God has called you, you will always suffer from a sense of purposelessness.
So, “what is the point?” Why are you here? And why am I here? And why are we here, as a body, why are we here? And what is it that God has called us to do? And what is your purpose? And why in the world would God leave you, and leave me on this earth?
Matthew 28:16-20
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
“As you are going, making these disciples, you’ll do some baptizing, you’ll do some teaching, and you’ll teach them to observe all the things I have taught you, and by the way, I’m going to be with you always, even to the end of the age — but my point is, make disciples!
A disciple is a learner and a follower. Jesus says, “As you go, in all the things you do, with your work, with your family, the reason you’re here, the number one purpose, isn’t simply to be good, and it’s not simply to worship, but the reason I’ve left you here is to make disciples.”
That is, take people from wherever they are, whether it’s your children, or someone who work with, or someone in your neighborhood, and move into their lives in such a significant way that when you exit their lives, they will be able to say, “wow, as a result of that relationship, I feel like I know Christ better, I feel closer to God, I feel like I understand a little bit better what it means to be a follower of Christ.”
Faith Community’s mission statement is this: to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ, for the good of our community and the sake of the world.
You can have a purpose in life that transcends this life! You can be a part of something that began before you were born, and will go on long after you leave this earth — you could become a part of the most exciting thing in this world — you could become a part of leading someone else into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
There is something you can do that no one else can do as well as you! God has gifted you for that purpose, and when you — as a person is who willing to be invaded by the Holy Spirit and transformed by His power, — when you make your gifts available to the church, you cannot avoid being a part of leading someone else into a growing relationship with Christ.
What is your purpose for living? Has there ever been a time that you’ve been able to say, “Okay, God, I’ve got all this stuff going on, but God, I’ve drifted, I’ve gotten off course, and God, I choose to adopt for my family, and for me personally, Your cause, and I’m committed to surrendering my whole life to being a part in leading other people into a growing relationships with Jesus Christ.”
If that’s your purpose, you’ll find that you will be content no matter where you are; no matter your circumstances, you will find fulfillment, because your purpose is God’s purpose, and your life has eternal meaning.
CLICK HERE to download Questions for Discussion and Personal Reflection.
(Excerpted from Sunday’s message; Pastor Todd Crosthwaite; May 6, 2012)
Comments
I have to say this message was by far one of my favorites. It was so God’s timing for me to hear it and to think I almost stayed home that day but was not going to give Satan the upper hand. Thank you Lord for this awesome message.
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