The Heart of Jesus: Living on Mission

The heart of Jesus is always on mission. He came with a purpose: to seek, to save, and to send. This wasn’t a side project; it was the focus of His life. It’s the heartbeat of the Church today. The same Spirit that raised Christ now empowers us to reach the lost, heal the sick, cast out demons, and proclaim the Gospel. We are not called to be spectators in the bleachers but to be in the game, on the frontlines, robbing Hell of its power and populating Heaven.

In the next section, we will focus on the Great Commission. Jesus said, “Go into all the world.” He never said, “Go into all the church.” The call to action isn’t necessarily to become a missionary in Tanzania. But if He calls you to do that, go for it! The call to action is to realize that it’s quite difficult to want to share the Gospel in Tanzania if you haven’t even shared it with your own family or friends first.

Jesus’ final words to His disciples in Acts 1:8 remind us, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” There is a process for how to evangelize and spread the Gospel: local, regional, national, then international.

Jesus modeled for us how to be a witness in both action and word. He did it in tandem. It’s not enough to just “live” the Gospel without words to match for fear of being “preachy.” If we’re honest, an atheist can look like a Christian in action too. Kindness, gentleness, patience, love, peacefulness, goodness, faithfulness, joyfulness, and self-control are not exclusive to Christianity. We don’t have the patent on that.

The difference is we know where it comes from. Our anchor is in the resurrected Savior who helps us. That’s why Peter instructs us to always be ready to give a reason for the hope we have.

Are you living on mission or living in convenience? This question challenges us to reflect on our daily lives. Are we actively seeking opportunities to share our faith, or are we content to remain in our comfort zones?

Getting out of the comfort of the sidelines and into the game requires courage. It’s about recognizing that we have been equipped for a purpose. Each of us has unique gifts and talents that can be used to impact those around us.

Who is God calling you to reach this week? Write down their name(s). Text them, call them. This simple act can lead to profound conversations and opportunities to share the love of Christ.