Missions are often associated with traveling far away to a different place and spending a long time there ministering to hundreds of people.
While overseas mission trips are very impactful, missions aren’t limited to grandiose excursions.
For Christians, being on mission is about living for Christ wherever God has placed you.
Jesus gave his disciples a mission in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
He also commanded his followers in Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Although these commands require us to leave our comfort zones, they do not mean that we must take out our passports and go to another country.
Someone can be on mission in a classroom, workplace, sports team or even in a conversation with a friend.
Ultimately, the definition of being on mission is about reflecting Christ through the actions of your everyday life.
There are steps that you can take to begin to be on mission daily.
First, missions start with a relationship. Before Christians can serve others, they must understand the God they are serving.
A relationship with Christ changes the motivation behind service. Instead of seeking glory and recognition, Christians serve because Christ first served us.
When we are striving to be like Jesus, we must humble ourselves like he did. In John 13, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. That was a job usually reserved for the lowliest servant, but the Creator of the universe lowered himself to show what it means to have a servant’s heart.
Being on mission means following that example, practicing humility and putting others before yourself.
For a college student, this could look like eating with someone who is sitting alone in the dining hall, encouraging a teammate and even talking to a friend when they are going through a hard season of life.
In Matthew 25:40 Jesus said, “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
Small acts of kindness when no one is paying attention show Christ’s love.
Second, missions are more than a location. No matter where you go, mission trips serve as a time to share the gospel and serve the community.
Living a life on mission means you are intentional with the people around you.
The way you behave in everyday life can either point a person toward or away from Christ.
Third, missions require sacrifice. It is not going to be easy or comfortable to follow Christ, nor will it be convenient to give others your time, energy and patience.
Sacrifice means listening instead of speaking, helping when no one else volunteers or forgiving someone who has hurt you.
Which brings me to my last point, missions involves using your gifts. God has given every person a unique talent, ability or experience. Being on mission allows everyone to serve in their own way.
A teacher’s ability to guide, a journalist’s ability to write and a doctor’s ability to heal others are all ways to serve and point people to Christ. God can use anyone to live on mission for him.
The question should not be ‘where am I headed?’ but ‘how can I serve Christ where I am?’
We ought to have the same heart posture as the prophet Isaiah did in Isaiah 6:8: “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’”
Living on mission may mean that one day the Lord will call you to get on a plane to serve a community in another country. It also could mean that he calls you to preach the gospel to someone across the hallway. Either way, you’re on mission when you answer the call of the Lord.
So, what does it mean to be on mission? It means taking up your cross and following Christ.
Sizemore is the POV editor for The Liberty Champion.