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DAY 3: Jesus the Great Missionary
Missions Conference 2010 Devotional | View the Entire Devotional Series
Today I’m not going to write much, I just want you to read about Jesus the Great Missionary straight from Scripture. The bible tells us that God sent Jesus to die for a lost, rebellious, wicked, and dying world. The following passages reveal how Jesus first lived out the Missio Dei as a missionary sent from God before calling us to do the same.
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” – John 4:34
“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” – John 5:30
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” – John 6:38
“I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” – John 7:29
“And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always to the things that are pleasing to him.” – John 8:29
“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work” – John 9:4
And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.” – John 12:44-45
“For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.” – John 12:49
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” – John 13:20
“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” – John 17:3
“For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.” – John 17:8
We’re called to do the same thing. In fact, Jesus declares that he has sent and is sending us to go out just as he did to reach a lost and dying world.
“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” – John 17:17
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” – John 20:21
Go back now and re-read that first set of verses in light of the fact that Jesus is sending you to be a missionary in the same way he was sent by the Father.
Journaling Questions
- When you think of Jesus sending you as his missionary to the world, how do you feel? Excited? Scared? Encouraged? Write about it.
- What are ways you have responded to Jesus’ call to live out the Missio Dei (Mission of God) and help fulfill the Great Commission? List any you can think of.
- Look at the first verse in the list above. What would need to change in your life for you to live out John 4:34 like Jesus did?
Many of the thoughts behind days 2-4 of our devotional were taken from a series called “Missional Christianity” at theResurgence.com. You can view that entire series here: Missional Christianity Series