The One(s) Sent

It has been an incredibly busy fall for us with preaching every Sunday but one, putting on three conferences in Alberta, Michigan and British Columbia as well as classis meeting presentations and ministry leaders' luncheons. This is true of every fall. For many churches, fall is the season of mission emphasis.

Missions is typically not much on the minds of people or the calendar of congregations in Advent. The focus typically shifts to the coming of Jesus to our world as a baby born in humble circumstances for our good. But Advent is also a season to remember why the Son of God showed up in that stable. He didn't just come to provide salvation and forgiveness for those who were born and raised to know Him. The salvation that He gained was for people of every tribe, language, people and nation. He was sent into the world to save sinners. The promises that were fulfilled in Bethlehem were not only for the Jews or North Americans, but for the world. We often focus lots of attention on Matthew 28 as an expression of the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations, but the commission is expressed in a variety of ways in other parts of Scripture. In John 17:18 Jesus prays, "As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." Jesus came on a mission from God. Here He ties that sending directly to ours and our mission directly to His. This Advent, I pray that you experience the sense of being sent with Good News to a world in need of it.