John 20:21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”
We often think of missions as an "extra ministry" for the church, an option to be considered only when we have sufficient capacity and resources. But Jesus' words completely reverse this logic—the church exists because it is sent. Just as the Father sent the Son into the brokenness and darkness of the world, the Son similarly sends his disciples into the realities of people and situations. This means that we don't first establish a stable church and then decide whether to go out; rather, from the very beginning, the church lives in the identity of being "sent." Missions are not an added burden, but a recognition of our identity; not an extra task, but a response to grace. The question is no longer "What can I do for God?", but "Am I living today in the position He has sent me to?"
Lord Jesus, thank you that after your resurrection, you did not first give us plans and strategies, but instead bestowed peace and command. Forgive us for often treating the church as a safe haven, forgetting that it is the vessel through which you enter the world. Renew my vision, so that I may no longer ask, "Is this my responsibility?" but rather, "Where have you sent me today?" Whether at home, at work, in church, or among others, grant me the ability to faithfully live out my identity as a sent one, not through my own zeal, but by relying on the Lord who sent me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.