PENTECOST • 6

What does it look like to live on mission as God’s servants?

SONGS FOR PRAYER

reading for: Tuesday Night, 4 July

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Missional Focus in a Topsy Turvy World

  • READ

    We live in a topsy turvy world, or in our Singaporean language, 乱七八招，rabak, CMI world. In one moment we can be celebrating our ministers for leading us well through the COVID pandemic, in another instance we can be picking on their residential choices and alleged use of privilege information and authority.

    That is the situation that Jesus and John the Baptist found themselves in (v. 16-19). John neither ate nor drank and Israel accused him of being possessed by a demon. Jesus on the other hand, came eating, drinking and was accused as a glutton, drunkard and friend of sinners. Both of them were condemned and deemed as unfitting and unsuitable leaders of God. Both of them were accused and written off as not living rightly on mission.

    Yet both knew clearly their call from God and the conviction they had. Jesus trusted in the wisdom He had received from the Father (v. 25-27). Just as John likely had received his wisdom from God on how to live and express God’s heart and mission for this world. To put it simply, they focused on living for God the Father rather than on the swaying opinions of mankind. They trusted in the work of the Father in this world more than anything and gave themselves completely to live for Him. That is the posture they took which enabled them to live out their lives which in the end looked completely different. One drank while the other fasted.

    Yet this conviction, this belief and utter surrender enabled them to rest (v. 28-30). And Jesus who amongst all men on earth had learnt best to do this, invites us to learn from him. To find rest with Him, trusting in the Father’s work and moving with him step by step.

    Missional living, focused living like Jesus isn’t meant to kill us and make us more tired or burnt out. It is meant to be restful and life giving to us in a world where there are constant changes of opinions.

  • REFLECT

In this season as we think about the 2nd half of our year in 2023, lets consider what it looks like to live on mission in our work. All workplaces will experience some kind of turmoil and chaos at some point of time and you might be right in the thick of it now!

What was the reason that drew you first to this workplace? What was one of the things that drew you to this role that you are in now?

If you are studying in school, what drew you to pick this school and course?

What were you initial hopes when you started out this work or was there an inspired goal/hope at work for 2023? As you have spent the past 6 months working, toiling, with some success and failures, if you could tweak or adjust your goal/hope at work, what would it be?

Or if your goal is still the same, is there 1 or 2 things you could tweak or change in your approach or action (habit) that might help you move closer to it?

reading for: Wednesday Night, 5 july

Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67

A Servant’s Focus on the Mission

  • READ

    We live in a world full of distractions, our smartphones connect us to the world of information and power. Not only can we see what our friends are doing in Japan a few minutes or hours ago, we can also purchase anything and get it delivered to us with the click of a button.

    Not only that, we are facing all sorts of forces in our world that pulls us in different directions.

    How then do we keep focused on our mission? What does that even look like?

    Abraham’s servant is a great example for us in this week’s reading.

    First of all, he is nameless. He could have been male or female, young or old but what is clear is that he/she is unnamed. By being unnamed, the focus isn’t on him/her. Its not his agenda or his mission or purpose, its about his/her Master’s mission. That is how he/she first defines himself/herself (v.34, 35, 36, 37), he/she is Abraham’s servant, the LORD has blessed his/her master and his/her master made him swear. His namelessness enabled him to focus not on himself, but on the master. That is the first lesson on how we can keep focused on our mission.

    Second, he was focused on the God of his master. Abraham told her to get a wife from his kindred. He did not give further instructions on how or when to do it, but when she actually went to carry out the instructions, she dedicated the desires and action before the Lord. It was then that the Lord acted by bringing Rebekah to the spring. In addition, the context of this passage is that this servant is now explaining how everything happened to Laban (v. 33). And in her retelling of the events, what stands out is her constant reference to the LORD or God of His Master. In fact, he even prayed and asked the LORD herself (v. 42). Later, he even bowed and worshipped the LORD (v. 48). This servant was able to keep focused on her mission because she was focused on God.

  • REFLECT

    If you have been reminded about your goal/hope at work for 2023 yesterday, have you been able to stay focused on it the past 6 months? What were some things that distracted you or made you lose focus?

    What is 1 thing you might do different to help you keep focused on your mission? (For example a daily reminder of your goal, prayer and worship to help you focus on God, sharing your struggles, etc)

reading for: Thursday Night, 6 july

Romans 7:15-25a

The Inner Battle of Someone On Mission

  • READ

    What is your picture of someone who is living on mission as a servant of God? Are there any struggles or challenges that he/she faces? Or do we imagine that someone who is living on mission as God’s servant is always and constantly doing it with ease?

    Many of us would readily admit that Paul the apostle lived a life on mission as God’s servant. His life could arguably be said to be lived solely for Jesus and His mission in this world. He made decisions, sacrifices that many of us would not even dare to dream about making for God. In other words, many of us have this perfect picture of Paul the apostle.

    Yet our passage in Romans paints quite a different picture for us. Its almost as if Paul is a hypocrite or man who does not have any integrity. Or maybe we could describe him as a fickle and lousy Christian. He doesn’t even understand his own actions, he does what he hates (v. 15). Sin that dwells within him is actually exerting some control and influence over his life, choices and decisions (v. 17-20). Sin has not been completely removed from his life apparently!

    In fact, in the times when he is able to do good, when he is loving the law of God, he also sees evil close to him. And he sees sin still exerting some control over his mind and thoughts (v. 23). What a weird picture of a “perfect/remarkable/respectable” servant of God who’s living for God’s mission!

    Could it be that our ideal and perfect picture of a “strong Christian” living on mission for God is inaccurate? Could it be that we have a worldly view of that rather than an accurate biblical view?

  • REFLECT

    How many times in the past year have you felt like giving up or throwing in the towel in your workplace or job? Many of us start out our work with a clear goal/hope/vision of what we might become, what we might accomplish. But as work piles up, as the culture of the bosses and workplaces becomes “more real”, we slowly become more “realistic” and give up on those hopes. We put them aside and think of them as naive or unrealistic.

    The truth is to live on mission for God is to constantly battle with negative thoughts, thoughts of giving up, voices that condemn us because these voices are the voices of sin wanting to take hold of our mind and lives again. Paul the great apostle, the man who lived and breathed Jesus fully and completely, did not have a “perfect” life with no struggles. He constantly battled and fought against the voices and thoughts. Amidst it all, he always came back to the fact that in Jesus Christ, through Jesus Christ, he can, he could and he would continue. Romans 8 details out more of what that means.

    In the past 6 months, what were some situations that led you to times when you wanted to give up? What triggered and led you to that place?

    Were there times when you were able to fight against those thoughts and experience the breakthrough? What were some things that led you on the path of victory in Jesus?

    Looking at the next 6 months, what are 1 or 2 things you could do to help you “fight/battle” with those thoughts and focus more on what God has done in Jesus? What are some verses, or statements you can focus your mind and thoughts on?

reading for: FRIDAY Night, 7 july

Psalm 45:10-17

The Security of a Missionary

  • READ

    In the first 9 verses of this Psalm, we see a picture of this majestic, gracious and just King. One whose throne and rule endures and lasts forever (v. 6).

    And when we turn to verse 10, we note the change of focus towards a lady. A royal daughter whose husband delights and desires in (v. 11).

    In fact, this daughter attracts the attention of other powerful and wealthy people (v. 12).

    For she is beautiful in her golden gown (v. 13), she is surrounded by bridesmaids and there is such joy and gladness as she enters into the palace of the King (v. 14-15).

    The guarantee for this beautiful lady is that her offspring, will become kings (v. 16), who rule over many lands. The name and house would be honoured and praised through all generations (v. 17).

  • REFLECT

    You might be wondering, who is this royal lady? Who is this beautiful one who is delighted by this great and majestic King?

    If you have not deduced already, this King is none other than Jesus. Only He is fitting of such descriptions. Only His throne, kingdom and rule lasts forever.

    And the royal lady is His church. You. (Ephesians 5:25-27, Revelations 19:7-9, Isaiah 54:5)

    Its hard to accept much less comprehend that Jesus actually thinks and looks at us in such a way. We are hardly beautiful, what beauty can there be to be desired?

    Most of the time, we feel unworthy to even be in the presence of God, and think of God as someone who is constantly unhappy with us.

    Yet we are told that there is such joy and gladness even as you enter into the courts of the King in a golden gown.

    How would such a realisation of God’s desire of you affect the way you live on mission?

    Quite often we feel as if we need to prove to the world or fight and prove ourselves before God and achieve “something great” before we are accepted. But what if you were secured in God’s love and desire for you? Wouldn’t your decisions and actions be a response to His love rather than a striving for his love?

    What is 1 thing you can do in the 2nd half of 2023 to remind yourself of your place with God and how much He desires your beauty?

Season of PentecostCNL