We Are the Special Mission

Scripture: I, Paul, have been sent on a special mission by the Messiah, Jesus, planned by God himself. I write this to God’s congregation in Corinth, and to believers all over Achaia province. May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours! Timothy, someone you know and trust, joins me in this greeting. 2 Corinthians 1:1-2

Observation: Paul addresses this letter to the church at Corinth, but also intends it for a much, much larger audience. He includes in the greeting the entire region of Achaia, which includes the entire Peloponnese peninsula, several small islands, and a piece of the Greek mainland. The interesting part of this introduction is the explanation of his work, stating that all of Paul's mission work is a "special mission" and "planned by God himself."

In this manner, Paul is implying two things. The first is that the Lord has a plan for Paul's ministry, and that plan is not yet complete. This is reenforced when he then later talks about the harrowing trouble he met in Asia Minor from which the Lord saved him. The second implication is that the salvation of those in Corinth and Achaia is truly part of the Lord's plan. As Paul has visited them and mentored them, following God's plan, they then ARE that plan.

Application: As I have thought often about the work of the Church in our modern time and within our current culture, this is a perfect sentiment to remember ... God has a plan, and that plan included the salvation of ME.

I have told my story about praying to the Lord for a new direction in life, attending a nearby church, and having God show up in my life (uber-short version!). I discovered a couple days ago that that church ... no longer exists. It's not surprising given the passing of time and the state of the PC(USA). However, one thing I thought of is that, in its time and place, that church was part of God's plan, and that plan included giving me just enough hope to survive and rediscover Jesus. I may be one of thousands who received hope from that church. I am one of billions who receive hope from the universal Church every day. This is the Lord's plan, at both the individual and global level.

We are all sent on a special mission by the Messiah, Jesus. It is a mission planned by God himself. The amazing thing is that we are now sent on this special mission, because at one time we WERE the special mission!

Prayer: Lord, I will stay in this mindset today. Thank you so very, very much for making me someone's mission over 30 years ago. May I recognize that I am now on special mission for you, and that mission is to bring the hope found in all your gifts and benefits, which come from God the Father and Jesus Christ our savior, to others. Amen.