Is The Mission Compelling?

What made the followers of Jesus, those 12 guys that spent the most time with Him, get up every morning knowing that their lives could be in danger?   They knew few people would listen to them.  They knew most would think they were crazy, a dead man brought himself back to life is a pretty far-fetched story after all.  They knew they would suffer ridicule, imprisonment, poverty and even their eventual death.  So what causes people to give their lives?

The mission is COMPELLING.  

And it isn't just the wording of the mission that's inspiring, it's The Word the mission is established on.

In Jesus' last conversation with His followers (Matthew 28:16-20) He gave them this mission for His church:

• Make disciples of all nations.  
• Baptize them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  
• Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.  

This was a huge task and one they would never be able to accomplish on their own but it was so compelling that the disciples spent the rest of their lives, and literally gave their lives, to see it accomplished.

So why do so many people stop working to accomplish their mission?  Because it's not big enough.  If your mission is about you or ultimately for you it won't sustain you.  For instance, getting rich is not an exciting or compelling enough mission to give your life to.  Booker T. Washington said, “Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”

Jesus' mission was so compelling He gave His life to see it accomplished.  As did all of His disciples and still others even today.  And as followers of Jesus we are commanded to "live as Jesus did" (1 John 2:6).  Jesus' personal mission was that the lost would be found, the blind see, the dead be raised and the captives set free.  That's a compelling mission!

Then Jesus gave the church the mission of making disciples, baptizing and teaching.  For every church that mission is going to be expressed a little differently but it should be compelling enough for us to get behind.   At Real Life our mission is to help every person possible find real life in Jesus and look more like Him every day.  That's why we do what we do.

If your mission isn't compelling you'll soon become complacent.  What are you doing to keep your mission fresh in your life?