Mission预览

I Am Sending You 

Today's  two Bible readings are from court hearings at which Paul spoke in trial of his conversion to Jesus. In Acts 22, he recounts his encounter with the resurrected and ascended Jesus Christ on the way to Damascus, during which he asks Jesus two questions: 

“Who are You, Lord?” (22:8)

“What shall I do, Lord?” (22:10)

These are ultimately questions that each of us must ask. Those who have yet to begin a saving relationship with Jesus must ask, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And while the rest of us will do well to continue asking questions along those lines as we get to know Him better and better, the next question once we start a relationship with Jesus is, “What shall I do, Lord?” 

And, sliding over to the other Bible reading in our plan, Acts 26, we see a clear mission given by Jesus to Paul:

I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me (Acts 26:17b-18 NIV). 

We can legitimately receive this commission as Paul did. As we position ourselves in obedient submission to Jesus, He can also dispatch us on this important mission. 

We are sent to open eyes. Some eyes are blinded, like minds, by the god of this age, so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4ff). Others are just closed by stubborn self-will.

We are deployed to turn them from darkness to light, from the power of satan to God. In this parallel, darkness is equated with satanic power, and light with God. 

To what end? First that they receive forgiveness of sins. That’s salvation. As people repent of their sins and trust the Lord Jesus Christ they are forgiven and born again. Hallelujah. 

But Jesus doesn’t stop there. His purpose goes beyond mere conversion. He wants each saved person to be sanctified by faith in Him. This echoes 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

What does this mean? Everybody holy. (we’ve got a huge mission before us)

How does it look? Global love. (miraculous)