God's Heart

Life in Mission - Devotion 1

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance”.  2 Peter 3:9

Why Life in Mission? Why don’t we just live and let live? Why don’t we just die once we’ve accepted Jesus as our Savior? Why continue to “live” down here when true life is with God in heaven?

Because it is God’s heart that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Time and again in scripture, God does not leave us to our fate, but intervenes, saves and restores us. He punishes Cain, but does not kill him, he rescues Noah and his family. For the sake of 10 righteous God would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah. He delivered Joseph and then all of Israel. You get the picture. He saved His greatest act of love when Jesus died for all on the cross at Calvary. He who knew no sin became sin so that in His death we might be put to death. Yet in His resurrection we might also be made alive in Him. Jesus has a heart for the lost, thank God! Because even those of us who at times feel righteous are not. Check out Romans 2:1.

Time and again Jesus shares His heart, see Matthew 9:12-13 or check out Luke 15 - lost sheep, lost coin, lost son. I am reminded of my Aunt who prayed over 40 years for her husband to come to Christ. In the end he died a Christian man. As we grow in our Life in Jesus our hearts become God's and we find ourselves patiently and relentlessly pursuing lost people.

We are also commanded to preach and share the message of Jesus. Matthew 28:18-20. So it is an issue of obedience as well. Note Jesus does not say go “if you feel like it”, or “if you are a dynamic speaker” or “if you find the time” or “if it is politically correct” or “if there is no risk to you”. He just says, “Go!” But he never leaves you hanging. There is the promise “and surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”

We are in Life in Mission with people who do not know Jesus not only because it is commanded. We are in mission because God gives us His heart of compassion for the lost and, therefore, we desire to share Jesus with others.

Dear Jesus, give us your heart for the lost, that we might joyfully engage in life in mission. Not because we have to but because it is our passion. In your name we pray. Amen.