Mission Possible

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

John 13:35



Growing up I enjoyed watching the television show “Mission Impossible” and the line that started every episode, “Your mission, should you choose to accept it…” Are you aware that the Lord has a mission for you today if you would choose to accept it? That show came to mind as I read with interest a book on missions where the author shared, “We don’t need to go on “mission trips” any longer. Jesus’ friends never called them this. They knew love already had a name. Just look for opportunity to love people in Jesus name.” That seems so simple. The book went on to say, “Instead of saying you’re a missionary, why not just go somewhere to learn about your faith from the people you find there and be as helpful as you can be while you are with them?

The more I read the more I felt like maybe I have made “missions” more complex than what Jesus ever intended them to be. Maybe instead of calling what should be every day ministry “mission trips” why not just call them Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or whatever day of the week it is? After all, every day and every place we go is intended to be a mission trip as a mission trip is nothing more than loving and serving people in Jesus name.

The point is, we don’t have use our vacation or wait for Christmas or Spring break any longer to go on a mission trip! Every day is an opportunity to love people in practical ways in Jesus name. Can you imagine what your day would be like if you knew that you were going to run into Jesus today? Would you be excited? Heck yeah! Read carefully what Jesus said in Mathew 25:35-40, “for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” Did you notice Jesus didn’t say, “you did it for Me” but rather, “you did it to Me”. There is a huge difference. There is the “ah ha” moment!

Just think, friends, today we have a chance to serve Jesus by loving on thirsty and hungry, naked and sick and imprisoned people knowing that when we do we are doing it to Jesus. And here is some more good news, we don’t even have to go half way around the world to do so! We can start right in our own backyard, right where we are at, loving on the people around us, and every place we go, anywhere the Lord leads us today! The only question to be asked is, will you accept this mission?

 
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

1 John 4:11  


I LOVE YOU!