In the Great Commission Jesus said, “Go to the people of all
nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do
everything I have told you.”^8 This commission was given to every
follower of Jesus, not to pastors and missionaries alone. This is
yourcommission from Jesus, and it is not optional. These words
of Jesus are not the Great Suggestion. If you are a part of God’s
family, your mission is mandatory.
To ignore it would be disobedience.
You may have been unaware that
God holds you responsible for the
unbelievers who live around you.
The Bible says, “You must warn
them so they may live. If you don’t
speak out to warn the wicked to stop
their evil ways, they will die in their sin. But I will hold you
responsible for their death.”^9 You are the only Christian some
people will ever know, and your mission is to share Jesus with
them.
Your mission is a wonderful privilege. Although it is a big
responsibility, it is also an incredible honor to be used by God.
Paul said, “God has given us the privilege of urging everyone to come
into his favor and be reconciled to him.”^10 Your mission involves
two great privileges: working with God and representing him. We
get to partner with God in the building of his kingdom. Paul calls
us “co-laborers”and says, “We are workers together with God.”^11
Jesus has secured our salvation, put us in his family, given us his
Spirit, and then made us his agents in the world. What a privilege!
The Bible says, “We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to
persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into
God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for
Christ himself now: Become friends with God.”^12
Telling others how they can have eternal life is the greatest
thing you can do for them. If your neighbor had cancer or
PURPOSE #5: You Were Made for a Mission 283
Jesus calls us not only
to come to him,
but to go for him.