Made For : an audio journey

How has God uniquely shaped you for His mission in the world? Let's take a moment to consider again, that mission is not our work and it isn't the invention, responsibility or program of the church. Instead, the mission we hear about flows directly out from the character and purposes of God, with a singular goal of drawing every person into relationship with Him.

Of the nearly 8 billion people in the world, 3 billion live in communities where they could easily go their whole lives and never meet a follower of Jesus. Sure, many will have heard the name, but they won't know the life. 3 billion who likely won't see the reflection of Christ's love for them from another. That's 3 billion people who won't get to know how much their father loves them unless we take action to help reunite God's family. So how do we respond?

God only has one purpose and one plan. And it's what he created us for. This is an important shift that as believers, we need to recognize So, what's it all about?

Jesus is the true image of God in human form. And as we serve others, seek the best for others, and love our enemies, we are becoming more like Christ. How does this help God's work in the world?

When you hear the story of the prodigal son, who do you see yourself as? Are you the wayward son who runs away from the father? Are you the father? Or are you the brother who stays behind? Most of us tend to see ourselves as the wayward son, the one who gets welcomed back by the father with open arms. And for those of us who came to faith later in life, after trying out our own path, that may have been true. But what about now? If you're not the wayward son anymore, and you're not the father, maybe you, maybe we are the other son.

God's single biggest goal is that all creation would be aligned to Him, that everyone on earth, all nearly 8 billion, would align our hearts with His. It's His mission of reconciliation to the world. So, as a follower of Christ, did we sign up for this task?

As the body of Christ, we are living members of Christ's crucified, resurrected, and ascended body. In the New Testament, Paul describes our unity as the work of the Holy Spirit in the creation of a new humanity, which functions under Christ's leadership. It is the Spirit who guides and gifts and graces us with unique and precious gifts given to us for ministry. But, do all of us have a role?

The writers of books of the Bible come from an age where they were really masters of imagery and storytelling. Throughout the New Testament followers of Christ, like you and me, were described in many ways. So, what do these descriptions mean for each of us?

As a follower of Christ, you know this story. God made everything. His hand touched and moulded everything, and it was good. So, where do we fit into the story? You, me ... Where do we fit in? Who are we in the eyes of God? Who are you?