The Mission
If the mission is God's will, it will continue, with or without us.
When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. Then he said to them, "Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared. After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them in that case you may even be found fighting against God!" They were convinced by him, and when they had called in the apostles, they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. - Acts 5:27-42
The Pharisee, Gamaliel, discovered a pattern that could be significant.
Leaders who claimed to be anointed by God would rise up, again and again, but when they were killed, their followers all dispersed and the movement came to an end.
This is what they thought would happen with Jesus, but something here was different.
The followers didn't disperse. Instead, the following grew.
So, he asked the question. What if this is real? What if this is God's will?
If the mission is real, it will survive anything, even the death of the leader. And in the case of Jesus, even if God's presence here on earth is blocked or thwarted.
When we say that Jesus was sacrificed for us, we mean that God allowed him to be killed, and that sounds horrible, but what it shows is the commitment to the mission, the purpose of His visit.
When we set out to do God's will, we believe in the mission. It is the mission and not us that will live on.
In a way, we know we are sacrificing ourselves for the purpose God has for us. Our job maybe to get it started, to help it grow, or to keep it going.
The Holy Spirit is the force that propels us, the strength that supports us, the guide who directs us.
If we want to be successful in our mission, God's mission, we need to trust him, and make decisions for the good of the mission and not for our own good.
That may be the hardest sacrifice to make, but just think of what might be if we make the mission a priority.
More to come...