The study and use of the Bible should be a regular part of the Christian’s life. Once more I invite you to spend a little time in your Bible, this time thinking about your mission in life as one who has been made God’s child through faith in Christ Jesus. Below are four sections of Scripture which speak to this topic. Read them through and jot down your thoughts. Then compare them to some thoughts which I found. (They are on the next page.) May God bless the time you spend reading and pondering the truths of his holy Word. May God through his Spirit commit you to recognizing the purpose and mission of your life in this world.

Matthew 28:18-20 - Mark 16:15 - 1 Peter 2:9-12 - Mark 2:17

Matthew 28:18-20

These words are called Jesus’ great commission. After Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and before Jesus’ ascension into heaven he gave his disciples their marching orders. As disciples of Jesus they were to make others disciples of Jesus too. But how could they do so? Through the use of logic? Through the power of persuasion? Through the use of positive thinking? No, for by nature we have no power to make ourselves or others Jesus’ disciples. By nature the good news about Jesus will be considered foolishness by those who hear it. But there is one power source Jesus makes available to us. It is his precious gospel message which is found in Jesus’ word and sacrament of holy Baptism. The Holy Spirit uses these means and these means only to change human hearts and to create and sustain Christian faith.

So what is the basic calling Jesus sets before all who are his disciples? No matter what our calling in life, no matter what our age or gender, no matter what our talents and abilities, Jesus sends us out to share his precious gospel message with others in every possible way. Tell people about Jesus and his wonderful work of salvation. Tell people about baptism. That’s what we are called to do. The Holy Spirit will do the rest, for the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.

Mark 16:15

This is Mark’s account of the great commission. He reminds us that our field for sharing Jesus’ message of good news is the world. Everybody needs to have the gospel shared with them for only those who believe this message will be saved.

Imagine people in distant countries living their entire lives without ever hearing about Jesus. How happy we should be to support the work of world missions so that this message of good news can be proclaimed to people whom we will never meet. Imagine people in our own country who are confused about Jesus and his gospel because they have been deceived by false prophets. How happy we should be to support the work of home missions so that Jesus’ message of good news might clearly be proclaimed also to them. Imagine people in our own community - perhaps our own neighbors or relatives or co-workers - who don’t know Jesus’ message of good news. How happy we should be to tell them about Jesus, to invite them to join us in worship, to lead them into Bible study where they can hear more. How eager and happy we should be to share with people throughout the world the good news that Jesus died for all.

1 Peter 2:9-12

Our mission in life is different from most people and that is because we are different. We are no longer a part of this world in which we now live as aliens and strangers. The people of this world serve their master the devil. We serve our master the Lord. What a high calling God himself has given to us, to live our lives in service to him so that God’s name is glorified.

Never forget your high calling as God’s chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. God himself has called us out of the world of darkness and brought us into his marvelous light. Now we are called to shine in this world. With our lips and with lives filled with good works we shine. We proclaim what great things God has done for us and for others. The pagans may remain pagans, yet on the final day of judgment even they will have to give glory to God for the light we shined upon them.

Mark 2:17

Jesus’ ministry was extended to all but there was one group of people who had no use for Jesus - the self-righteous. Because the self-righteous had no use for Jesus, Jesus turned away from them and gave his attention to "sinners." They knew they needed a "doctor" and Jesus was happy to "heal" them. There are many whom we know who are troubled by their sins. By the grace of God we know the "doctor". As Jesus has reached out his hand of love and forgiveness to us, Jesus would also reach out this same hand to them. Our mission in life is to be that hand, to tell them about Jesus. As we live in this world God will give us opportunities to be his witnesses. Let us look for them and be eager to seize them. No, the self-righteous will have no use for our witness. But there are many others who will.