a representative of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent
me, I am sending you.”^2
Jesus clearly understood his life mission on earth. At age twelve
he said, “I must be about my Father’s business,”^3 and twenty-one
years later, dying on the cross, he said, “It is finished.”^4 Like
bookends, these two statements frame a well-lived, purpose-
driven life. Jesus completed the mission the Father gave him.
The mission Jesus had while on earth is now ourmission
because we are the Body of Christ. What he did in his physical
body we are to continue as his spiritual body, the church. What is
that mission? Introducing people to God! The Bible says, “Christ
changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of
making others his friends also.”^5
God wants to redeem human beings from Satan and reconcile
them to himself so we can fulfill the five purposes he created us
for: to love him, to be a part of his family, to become like him, to
serve him, and to tell others about him. Once we are his, God
uses us to reach others. He saves us and then sends us out. The
Bible says, “We have been sent to speak for Christ.”^6 We are the
messengers of God’s love and purposes to the world.The Importance of Your Mission
Fulfilling your life mission on earth is an essential part of living
for God’s glory. The Bible gives several reasons why your mission
is so important.
Your mission is a continuation of Jesus’ mission on earth.
As his followers, we are to continue what Jesus started. Jesus calls
us not only to come tohim, but to go for him. Your
mission is so significant that Jesus repeated it five
times, in five different ways, in five different books
of the Bible.^7 It is as if he was saying, “I reallywant
you to get this!” Study these five commissions of
Jesus and you will learn the details of your mission on earth—the
when, where, why, and how.
The Purpose-Driven Life 282DAY THIRTY-SIX:
MADE FOR
A MISSION