Dear Friend,

I believe in missions, support several missionaries, and consider it my distinct privilege to do so. But I err, and so do you, if we think the only missionaries are those serving in foreign fields. Why?

We, too, are missionaries, wherever we are and whatever our calling. In our own local city, village, or countryside, we are missioners if we are fulfilling our Christian callings faithfully, thoroughly, and joyfully one mission at a time. For this we must cultivate a mission mentality.

Every day, every work, every task, every bit of ministry, should be seen as a mission. Its duties are our honor and their accomplishment our objective. With military precision, and a martyr's passion, we must set our hearts on finishing our missions, without distractions, or diversions, and with godly determination to steadily and prayerfully press through every hindrance, while maintaining patient forgiveness toward every hinderer. But never letting up. Never turning aside. Never doubting. Never doodling. Never giving up - until we finish our missions!

Our missions may be mundane - common occupations, unglamorous duties, or even the simplest chores. Or they may be monumental - ministries, messages, or missions of more obvious and significant kingdom impact. (Though, actually, none of us will know how significant our kingdom works are until we are in Christ's presence.)

Our mundane missions are much easier to identify. For instance, laboring in a factory or on a farm; mowing the grass; raking leaves; repairing the roof; taking someone to the store; visiting a relative in a nursing home; helping a neighbor; showing hospitality to a guest; babysitting; and so forth. Are these "missions"? Absolutely!

For confirmation, we need only consult the apostle Paul: "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Colossians 3:23). If "whatever" means whatever, and it does, and "heartily" means heartily, and it does, then Paul is telling us, by the very inspiration of the very Holy Spirit, that everything we take in hand is a mission. And we are fulfilling it "as to the Lord," or as if Jesus personally asked us to do it. That's a mission indeed. For Christ's kingdom. And pleasure. And honor. Or for His displeasure and dishonor, if we do not fulfill our mission faithfully, thoroughly, and joyfully.

Our monumental missions are more easily recognizable: a pastorate; assignment to a foreign mission post; serving as a deacon or elder; administrating a Christian ministry or church; a teaching ministry; a Christian counseling position; an evangelistic ministry; editorship of a Christian magazine; Christian radio, TV, or podcast ministry or production; the ministry of "helps" (1 Corinthians 12:28), meaning "support" or "aid," financial or otherwise; or that hidden yet most fundamental, productive, vital, and Christlike ministry - intercession! (See Hebrews 7:25.)

These monumental missions are more directly linked to the strength and growth of the present, earthly manifestation of the kingdom of God, the church. Above all others, they must be fulfilled faithfully, thoroughly, and joyfully - or the church becomes lifeless, fruitless, and un-Christlike.

For the church to become the mighty, spiritual army Christ intended, and Paul described (Ephesians 6:10-18), we must begin to see every task God puts before us, natural or spiritual, noticed or unnoticed, seemingly unimportant or important, as a divinely appointed mission. And we must see its accomplishment as our objective. And pursue it. And continue pursuing it. Faithfully. Thoroughly. Joyfully. Through delays. Through belittling mockery. Through painful suffering, if necessary. Until we have completed our mission. Our reward?

We will then be able to say aloud to ourselves, and hear Christ say in our hearts, these most beautiful, satisfying, rapturous words: "Mission accomplished!" Or, in the parlance of the New Testament, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21, 23).

The New Testament is filled with examples of "mission accomplished" moments. Let's review some of them.

Jesus traveled by Jacob's well, He met a woman there, He shared the gospel with her, she shared it with everyone in Sychar, Jesus remained there teaching God's Word three days - and many Samaritans believed on Him. Mission accomplished!

Jesus strode into Jericho, spotted Zacchaeus, a short, little, thieving publican perched in a tree, He lunched with him, Zacchaeus' sin-hardened, money-loving heart melted in the Sun of Righteousness' presence, he confessed his sins - and another son of Abraham received the Son of God. Mission accomplished!

Jesus and His disciples crossed Galilee, a terrible storm ensued, His disciples panicked, He rebuked the stormy winds and waves, and, upon arrival, delivered a widely known demoniac - whose testimony afterwards saved hundreds, perhaps thousands. Mission accomplished!

Jesus' disciples crossed Galilee again, this time in darkness, a powerful squall made them "toil" all night, Jesus finally appeared, the wind ceased, and, after Jesus' arrival, a healing frenzy broke out in Gennesaret with people running everywhere to bring sick friends and family - and "as many as touched him were made whole" (Mark 6:56). Mission accomplished!

In the end, on His cross, Jesus cried out, "It is finished" (John 19:30), so everyone present and throughout history would know His great mission - our eternal redemption - was complete. Mission accomplished!

Paul and Barnabas delivered the Antioch church's generous gift into the hands of the needy Jerusalem church - and Luke notes appropriately, they "fulfilled their ministry" (Acts 12:25). Mission accomplished!

Soon after this, the Holy Spirit spoke, "Separate me Saul and Barnabas for the work whereunto I have called them" (Acts 13:2), and they then went everywhere He led them to go, spoke everything He led them to speak, and ministered to every soul He led them to encounter - and many were saved in Cyprus, Antioch of Pisidia, and Galatia. Mission accomplished!

Years later, in Ephesus, Paul preached the gospel to the Jews, rented a lecture hall from a Gentile, taught and trained disciples there, and sent them throughout Asia Minor with the Word - until "all they who dwelt in Asia heard the word" (Acts 19:10). Mission accomplished!

And at the end of his life, Paul inscribed for posterity his lifelong mission mentality - "I have finished my course" (2 Timothy 4:7). Mission accomplished!

But before accomplishing these monumental missions, Jesus and Paul cultivated their mission mentality, and perfected it, on many mundane missions.

Jesus laboriously cut wood and stone, constructed countless chairs, tables, and stools, framed many a doorway and window, and made many farming tools in utter obscurity in Nazareth - for 30 years! Faithfully. Thoroughly. And joyfully. With these words in His heart and on His lips: "I delight to do thy will, O my God" (Psalm 40:8). Mission accomplished!

When after launching his ministry Paul was suddenly sent from Jerusalem back to his hometown of Tarsus - oh, what a humbling mission for a man whose heart burned with a supernatural vision of Christ, a personal commission from Him, a revelation of God's worldwide plan for this age, the mysteries of the Gentile church and its sudden, age-ending departure, and God's own implanted love for all people! - he resumed humbly practicing the tentmaking trade his Jewish father taught him. For nearly a decade the high and mighty Apostle to the Gentiles pursued this low and unimpressive mission. Faithfully. Thoroughly. Joyfully. Or, as he later taught us, "heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Colossians 3:23). Mission accomplished!

So, my friend what is your mission today? Is it mundane? Or monumental? Or some of both? That is, what is the specific present aspect of God's will for you in this season of your life? Whatever it is, see the end, the goal, the objective God has put before you. Get it clearly in focus, then pursue it!

Daily. Hourly. Minute by uneventful minute. When you feel excited. When you feel spiritually dry, dull, or lifeless. Stay focused. Refuse temptations. Indulge whatever edifies you and refocuses you on your objective. Turn distractions off. Reject diversions. And graciously, but firmly, refuse to let people without a mission mindset turn you. Until your season is finished and objective reached. Why?

You're on a mission. A God-mission. A mission for which you will one day give account to Jesus personally. No one else will have a say in that final, holy examination. So don't let what they say turn you back from it. The only thing that will matter then is: did you accomplish your life missions? And with what motives and attitudes? So, stay focused and persistent. Work faithfully, thoroughly, and joyfully - until the Holy Spirit speaks these beautiful, deeply satisfying words in your heart: Mission accomplished!

And now that I've finished this message, I think I hear Him speaking to me ...

"Mission accomplished,"

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries