Mission
It is amazing to me how many different thoughts might flood our minds when we hear a single word. If you and I were to hear the same word at the same time our minds would probably travel down two different roads. A word can trigger happy memories or take us immediately into a dark place. Every year here at Cross Creek Church we have a word for the year that helps us bring focus and give vision for the new year. This year is no different, but the word for this year might need a little more explaining. My mind just took a left turn as I typed that last sentence. The word “explaining” immediately made me think about the old 1950’s show, I Love Lucy. While I was not alive during the 1950’s, I’ve heard that statement many times. You’ve probably heard it as well but might not even know where it came from. The statement was, “Lucy, you have some splainin’ to do.” So, let me take a little time to explain our word for this year.
This year our theme is the word “mission”, and our key verse is Habakkuk 2:14. This verse does not use the word “mission”, but it gives us the clear desire and purpose of God. Habakkuk 2:14 (ESV) says, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” God’s mission is for the earth to know and experience His glory. You see we have relegated the word “mission” to a task of the church rather than the complete work of God to redeem His people and to establish His kingdom.
At Cross Creek Church, we have taken part in global missions by organizing mission trips and giving to global missions, and we believe these are important things for us to do. However, the goal should be for us to live on mission ourselves. Henry T. Blackaby in his book, On Mission with God, said, “God reveals Himself to you so you can adjust your life to Him and join Him on His mission. Where He takes you is His doing, not ours” (Blackaby). Simply put, mission is allowing God to reveal Himself to you and then allowing God to use you to reveal Himself to others. Just as the moon reflects the glory of the sun, we are to reflect the glory of God.
Sunday, January 7th , we will begin an 8-week series that will focus on seven biblical characters and how God chose to reveal Himself to them. The goal is to help us to understand God’s heart and mission so we can live our lives daily on mission. What if 2024 was the year you adjusted your life so you could fully experience His glory while walking with Him on His mission? May we live out Psalm 34:8 (ESV) and “taste and see that the Lord is good!” Blackaby goes on to say, “You are not just a channel through which God does something, but you are a transformed part of His eternal purpose to make you and all peoples of the world like His Son for His glory”
(Blackaby). May we sit and experience God daily to enjoy His glory and to join Him on mission.
The seven individuals we will examine are Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Peter, Paul, and John. Through these seven people we will see God’s eternal mission as He revealed it to them. It is humbling to consider the fact that God has determined to fulfill His mission through normal people just like you and me. You may have noticed there are three figures from the Old Testament and three figures from the New Testament. Picture the three examples from the Old Testament and the three from the New Testament as two different trails or paths up a mountain. While they are pointing to the mission of God, we see the peak of His mission through the life and person of Jesus. Jesus’ ultimate mission was to reveal the glory of God, which He did by becoming the sacrifice for our sin while making it possible for us to live on mission.
I’m excited for us to dive into a greater understanding of the heart and mission of God. We just finished celebrating Christmas, so let’s make sure we don’t confuse God with Santa. God is not there to simply gift us presents or to indulge our every whim. God comes so we can enjoy His presence. God comes so we can taste of His goodness. God comes so we can experience His glory. These are some of the greatest gifts of all. Will you taste and see that He is good? Will you sit at the feet of Jesus? Will you, like Moses, ask God to show you His glory? Will you desire for the whole earth to know and experience the glory of God? When we live on mission with Christ we will see lives transformed, marriages healed, the lost found, and His glory revealed to and through us. Are you ready?
References:
Blackaby, Henry, and Avery Willis. On Mission with God: Living God’s Purpose for His Glory.
Group, B&H Publishing, 2001.