Being Missional

Matthew 10:5–10

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.

The Mission of God

With Christ incarnate, the God of heaven set forth into motion the final movement of His redemptive plan — to bring the kingdom of heaven onto earth in its fullness and to redeem His lost children.

This was, however, more than a decree accompanied by sentimental banners and symbolic flags. God’s movement was backed with miraculous signs — a glimpse of the reality (that was meant to be and is to be) of the kingdom of heaven.

The lost sheep of Israel would be among the first to recognize such an advent of the kingdom; they were no strangers to the words of Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;

Isaiah 61:1–2

The telltale signs of the coming kingdom were apparent: the sick were healed from their afflictions; those under the bondage of demon possession were freed from the captivity of their supernatural prison wardens; and the dead were raised back to life.

This all seemed amazing, marvelous and miraculous in fact, but God was no mere miracle worker acting out of pity or charity for a lost race; God’s hand was upon the nations — that they would recognize the coming of His kingdom, be called back to Him and to partake in championing His mission for the world.

Those Called: Partakers Of The Mission

Jesus, in assimilating his disciples to his mission, called them on a short ‘field trip’ so that they might understand the nature of his mission and the demands of this work.

They were to:
1. Proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand
2. Propagate the work of Jesus in healing people, casting demons out of them and raising them from the dead
3. Give freely without receiving
4. Go on this journey without accumulating money, inventory, or clothing

This was a tall order, but a blessedly short one. But why was Jesus’ instructions so demanding for a seemingly simple task?

I believe we can glean a few principles from this illustration:

Partaking in God’s mission to redeem His people demands that we do not seek to profit ourselves.

The point was not to carry out God’s work at an ‘extreme difficulty’, sort of doing it with our hands tied. Depriving the disciples from accumulating money, or inventory, or clothing, or any articles was to demonstrate the nature of their apostleship — that they were doing God’s work, not their own work. As such, they were not even to show a hint of appearing like businessmen. Their brand was to be distinct: they were preaching the gospel as God’s representatives — for God’s mission alone do they labour.

As He had sent the Apostles forth unprovided and unencumbered on their mission, and the condition of the teachers seemed a hard one, He tempered the severity of the rules by this maxim, The labourer is worthy of his hire, i. e. Receive what you need for your food and clothing. Whence the Apostle says, Having food and raiment, let us therewith be content. (1 Tim. 6:8. Gal. 6:6.) And again, Let him that is catechized communicate unto him that catechizeth in all good things; that they whose disciples reap spiritual things, should make them partakers of their carnal things, not for the gratification of covetousness, but for the supply of wants.

Jerome of Stridon

Ultimately the disciples were sent off by Jesus again later but now without the restrictions recounted in this passage. They had understood the lesson of engaging with the material things of this world — that they do so not for the gratuitous satisfaction of their earthly desires but solely for their sustenance and in service of the mission of God (in which they dedicate glory to).

“Give us this day our daily bread” echoes boldly — a truth that God delights in lavishing provision for His people and to the service of His mission, but hidden within this prayer is the subtle relinquishing of covetousness, of things held ferociously close to the clawing heart of man. We may receive plentifully from God, but let us never hold fast and tightly to them that they hold us captive in the heart and distract our attention from the all-sufficient, all-providing gracious Father.

Partaking in God’s mission to redeem His people invites us to trust in the provident heart of God.

And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”

Luke 22:35

God’s primary intent is not to thrust us merely into lack (whether as a form of punishment or for penance) but to subjugate our hearts — to tame the fierce beast of pride, self-willed rebellion and boisterous notions of self-sufficiency.

God’s mission (which He invites us into) shall ultimately be fulfilled by the hand of God, and by extension, His resources. Whatever strength, whatever words, whatever circumstances that we so often predicate our success upon, the Lord is great to single-handedly satisfy all those needs. However, lest we think that we are in-charge and start directing the sails of our work, it is necessary for us to be humbled by the humiliating truth that, indeed, we have nothing to our name and no merit or wealth of ours to speak of.

When we realize how utterly dependent then we have to be on God, it opens us up to the treasure trove of grace and providence that we may freely receive from the divine master — that we hath nothing, but the Lord multiplied and shew us His provident heart, that through us He would bring forth marvelous works of grace and work wonders in the hearts of once-dead sinners.

Prayer

Dearest Father in Heaven,
Your goodness is from everlasting to everlasting. Your name is great among the nations, Your hand is ever sovereign and just, yet faithful and merciful.

I give You thanks for invigorating me once again, reminding me of Your mission to save the lost and redeem Your people; for reminding me that through Christ I am a partaker of Your mission as well — a meaningful and lifelong purpose that I may set my heart on, by gazing upon You and relying completely on Your providence and enabling.

Bring my heart to quiet worship of You, by being low and bending to Your will, O God. Forgive me I plead, for when my heart is astray and I turn to the world to be satisfied instead of Your loving embrace. Forgive me O Lord, for the low notions I have of You in my mind that is beneath such a majestic and awe-inspiring God — I acknowledge You as a person, as a loving Father, and as my Holy Creator. As I turn to You for help, will You raise me as an instrument of Christ’s love — to reflect Your glory and labour diligently as a citizen of heaven. May Your grace be sufficient for me.

In the namesake of Christ Jesus, I pray, Amen.