On Mission
Read the Scripture and devotional either on your own or with your people (family, small group, roommates), and then come together for the discussion each day.
Exodus 19:1-6
On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.
3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
Matthew 28:16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
When God met Moses in the burning bush, it wasn’t so Moses could have a mountaintop experience. It wasn’t so Moses could feel good. God met Moses because He loved Moses, but God also met Moses so that other people could be blessed through Moses’ work. God invited Moses to participate in His mission for the good of the whole nation of Israel and for the good of the Egyptians. Moses was to go and tell the Israelites who God was and then show the Egyptians who God was. They would also have a chance to worship God.
The release from slavery wasn’t just for the good of the people of Israel either. They saw miracle after miracle before Pharaoh let them leave the land and then God delivered them in the wilderness by parting the sea. After that, God made a covenant with them and told them they were going to be a kingdom of priests. They were called to mediate between God and people. God had brought them out of slavery so that they could be His own people and everyone else could know who Him.
When God meets us in moments of consecration, it is for our good. Our lives are blessed when we live in relationship with God. But it does not stop there. God is on a mission to redeem the world and be known by people and we are invited to join that mission. Our burning bush moments are designed to catapult us into mission. They are the turning points that redirect our lives.
As we reorder our own lives according to God’s ways of living, we change our focus. We start telling other people about Jesus. We want others to know the living God who is in the process of transforming our lives. Jesus is our hope, and we want others to know that hope as well. We also start coming alongside other believers to learn to follow Jesus together. Just as God called the entire nation of Israel to be His people, He calls the church to together fulfill the mission of making Him known. We mature into being like Christ alongside other believers. We are disciples. We make disciples. Being and making disciples becomes the aim of our lives in our work and our relationships.
God is on mission to redeem the world and be known to people. Consecration invites us into that mission as well.
Discussion Questions
Does the focus of your life align with God’s mission?
How does your life need to change as you enter into God’s mission?
Is there someone you can invite to Revival Week services this weekend?
For your kids: who is one person who is teaching you to follow Jesus? Tell them ‘thank you’!
Prayer Prompt
Revelation 7 9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
Praise God for His mission in the world and for being in relationship with Him. Ask God to burden you for His mission in the world.