The Word of God is the most amazing text in the history of the world. The number of overarching and corresponding themes interwoven throughout the course of a few thousand years is astounding to consider.

As Christians, we often study these themes and principles in effort to pursue God and to make our heart look more like his. That makes sense, right? We should love the things that God loves to become more like Christ.

We have a desire for knowledge of God, but do we love the mission of God?

The mission of God in the biblical narrative is an overwhelming picture of God’s desperate pursuit for his children. Even though mission can be seen throughout the whole Bible, have you ever thought, “I love the mission of God!”

I grew up in the church. I read missionary biographies, and my sister was a missionary. I felt a desire to work in mission. But I don’t think I really loved the mission of God. And I don’t believe that I am in the minority in this.

How is it possible that the mission of Jesus, our Creator, Father, Redeemer, Advocate, Intercessor, and Friend, is so frequently missed by we who dedicate our lives to him? This question is not easy to answer, but it should drive us, as followers of Christ, to action.

A good starting point in loving the mission of God is to see His mission in Scripture. It’s not something mentioned once or twice in the Bible, but woven throughout its entirety. The starting point would be the call of Abram in Genesis 12:3, when God promises that “in you [Abram] all the families of the Earth shall be blessed.”

Now, it is important to note that in the chapter before this, we read about the tower of Babel. This is crucial because as soon as there are nations, there is mission.

Next, turn to the Psalms. When we read the Psalms, we often think of verses where someone is crying out in lament, or a picture of God calming the souls of those he loves. These are true, undeniable, and a gift from God to His children.

What if we miss one of those key images? The image of God pursuing the heart of the nations is mentioned in over 40 Psalms! In most of those psalms, the nations are mentioned more than once.

Reading the Psalms makes me realize that, because of God’s heart for the nations, the redeeming work of Jesus Christ is extended to me, a Gentile sinner (outside the family of Abraham). Think about it: If God did not have a heart for the nations, then we would not have the opportunity to cling to his name. This is why we must love the mission of God and desire that the unreached come to know

Christ because all people groups—even my own—were once unreached.

A third of the world has not heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, and that needs to change! Jesus gave us this mission that he loves, and we all should work love and fulfill it. So, please join me in praying that workers are sent to unreached people, that the unreached are receptive to the Gospel, and that every follower of Christ will love the mission of God. 

–Matthew Hayes, Alliance Coordinator