“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God” (Acts 20:24 NLT).
What is an assignment? To kids going back to school in a few weeks it’s about homework, tasks for learning that will receive a grade. Another definition is “appointment, a position, duty or job for which somebody is chosen.” In the New Living Translation Paul’s words are translated as a life used to finish the work assigned by the Lord Jesus. Each of us has been appointed, given a position, duty or job for which we have been chosen. We have been placed in communities to tell the Good News about the wonderful grace of God in word and action, to partner with God in His mission.
Pastor John Wiley and The River church of Kansas City are taking their assignment seriously! Watch a video of the story produced by CBN News. As I watched the interviews and read the article I was thrilled to see this church confident in who they are and in their assignment in Kansas City. They are living each day to the fullest accomplishing it.
I would like to challenge each of you today, are you fulfilling your assignment? Can you say like Paul that your life is worth nothing to you unless you use it for finishing the work assigned you by the Lord Jesus? May we lift our eyes to see the people all around us who are just waiting to experience the Good News about the wonderful grace of God through our lives individually and collectively as His church. Not inside the building on Sunday, but outside where they are everyday.
We have a compelling assignment that makes life only worth living when we live it out! Giving away what we have received… the grace of the Lord Jesus. And the grade I’m looking forward to receiving on this assignment is, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Prayer Focus: I would like to especially ask every pastor to come before the Lord and evaluate the focus of your life and your church. Are you waking up each morning with the assignment in mind and with dependence upon the Holy Spirit to accomplish it? Do you see those people waiting to experience God’s grace all around you every day? Let’s ask Him to give us eyes to see the needs and to have the understanding of what we can do to meet them to be the hands and heart of Christ. Let’s tell the Good News of His wonderful grace with our lives and with our words. The assignment has your name on it!
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Tammy Dunahoo is Foursquare General Supervisor and Vice President of Women in Leadership Ministry.
