“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:25-2
The Father's Heart for MissionIn these verses we read that the Father SENT his Son on a 'mission' trusting him to fulfill all that was asked of him. Why? In order that everyone may have the opportunity to hear of the Father's heart of love that will stop at nothing to win his children back into the relationship he intends for us all.
To help us understand this more here are three nuggets I have learnt over the years about God's purpose in sending Jesus:
Mission is found in the very heart and being of God
You can't describe God without pointing to "sending" and "being sent" to share the Good News. God's heart is for you and your neighbour as much as he is for a people group you've never heard of. Mission is not for the chosen few, but for all who follow Jesus.
The Father's heart's desire is that ALL NATIONS will worship him
"All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations."
Psalm 22:27-28
In Jesus Christ the Father found a way to appear before us
- and without scaring the living daylights out of us!
God comes alongside us in our daily struggles to show us his heart: gentle but just; understanding but awesome; generous but righteous.
Let’s Pray…
Talk to God about your responses to these quotations.
Pray for anyone you know who is engaged in sharing the Good News with those who need to hear of the Father's love.
Ask the Father if he has someone or (some ones) near or far, with whom he wants you to share his love. .