Message And Mission

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.  

John 20:20, 21  

Having purpose in life makes for gladness. Christ gives us purpose. When He died on the cross, the hopes of the disciples died with Him. They had followed Him for three years, were convinced He was the Messiah, and anticipated His triumph. They had a message and a mission. When Christ died, they lost all of that. When Christ arose from the dead, it all returned. Now they could go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, adding to it that they had seen Him alive after His passion on numerous occasions. This message and mission would absorb the rest of their life. Each of them would go forth to preach Christ until their dying breath. We also have a message and a mission. We believe Christ has risen from the dead. We proclaim Him as the High King of heaven. Everywhere we go we declare He is risen from the dead and shall return, according to His word. Their message is our message; their mission is our mission. This gives us purpose and makes us very glad.  

Our Gracious Master and our God,  
we rejoice that You have given to us a message and a mission.  
We praise You that we can go anywhere and everywhere  
making much of You. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning