Always on duty.
Always on call.
Always on mission.
We hear these phrases used in reference to doctors, law enforcement, pastors, and mothers.
The principle is also applied to children of God (followers of Christ).
Being a Christian is a full-time reality (commitment, relationship, experience). I am not referring to nominal Christians (Christian in name only), or to cultural Christians; I am referring to actual Christians (born again, Christ-following, Bible-believing).
Though the three phrases are good, I choose to use the phrase, "Always on Mission."
"On Duty" might imply "forced compliance." As Christians, we do have duties, but we do not do our duty is not because it is oppressive, legalistic rules. We do the will of God because we love Him, not because we are coerced, or because we are seeking rewards, or because we are earning our pay. It is true that we owe God everything, but we gladly surrender to Him because He is worthy and because we are grateful.
"On Call" indicates that we are not actively involved at a particular time. We tell folks, "Call me if you need me," but that is not the viewpoint of a Christian toward God. The fact is, we are already called, and we are answering that call. We are not putting God's call on hold. We wait for God's leading, but not for His call. As sinners (people living in sin), we are called to salvation (faith, obedience, and newness of life), and as believers, we are called to service. As Christians, we have accepted the call to salvation and the call to service. God leads us day by day and step by step, and we follow when He leads us in a new or distinctly different pathway, but that is part of our call. Jesus said, "If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me."
"On Mission" is a phrase that indicates we are currently active in our service to God. Our mission is an ongoing, never-ending mission. There will be times when we have special or particular "missions" within our greater mission.
I am always "on mission," but sometimes I am called, led, or directed to do a specific mission within the mission. Witnessing for Christ (telling others the Good News and manifesting His presence in my life) is my mission. My constant mission is to love, follow, and serve God and to tell others around me about Christ. I am always a witness (because my life witnesses to my relationship with God, either good or bad), and as a faithful witness, I am always ready to give my witness (tell someone about my relationship with God), but sometimes I am sent specifically to witness to others about Christ.
Therefore, when I am involved in daily or routine activities, I am still on mission. God's word tells us, "Whatever you do, do as unto the Lord." In my daily activities, I am watching and listening for God's leading to tell the Good News to someone. But sometimes I go out into society for the express purpose of sharing my testimony and proclaiming the Good News to others.
In my going, I may share with several people, but I am always asking God to lead me to the person He has prepared for this encounter. I also ask God to give me the opportunity and ability to be a "meaningful" witness.
In fact, the other day I was "voice texting" a message to myself, which I wanted to put on Facebook. In the text, I was pointing out the importance of asking God to lead me to a person with whom I could have a meaningful witness. While I was dictating on my phone, God actually took me straight to someone. I had to stop dictating my post in order to do my mission within my mission. As I had been praying, it was not only an opportunity to share with someone, but it was a very meaningful and successful encounter.
I had at least three meaningful witnessing opportunities on our trip to Morehead on Wednesday. There are various ways an encounter can be categorized as meaningful, and you may not always know how meaningful your witness has been. Remember, just like everything else, which we do as believers, "we witness by faith."
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