The Mission
Scripture Reading — Matthew 10:1-16
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority …”
—Matthew 10:1
In the 1981 movie The Blues Brothers, small-time criminals Jake and Elwood Blues receive a vision in church to reunite their band in order to save their former orphanage. To convince some of the band members to join them, they have only one thing to say: “We’re on a mission from God.”
In a sense, Jesus was doing the same with his disciples. He gathered them together and told them they were on a mission from God. What was the mission? They were invited to change lives in the name of Jesus.
Jesus empowered those twelve disciples to do amazing things in his name. They were authorized to drive demons away and heal people from all kinds of sicknesses. Jesus was not interested in making a name for himself, or building up his poll numbers. He was announcing that the kingdom of God was on the move. It was time for God’s agenda to be known in the life and actions of the Savior. He gave his followers a mission from God, and the world will never be the same because of it. That includes you and me too.
We have been sent into our neighborhoods to share the story of forgiveness in the name of Jesus. We have been sent into the places of trouble and despair to model the life-affirming witness of the Savior. We are on a mission from God!
Jesus, I accept the mission of sharing the news of grace, healing, and freedom in your name. Thank you for empowering me to be your witness. Amen.
About the author — Reginald Smith
Dr. Reginald Smith is senior pastor at Roosevelt Park Community Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he has served for seventeen years. He has also served as a pastor in Paterson, New Jersey. He and his wife, Sharon, have three daughters, Janelle, Katrina, and Mariah.
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