Remembering that we were "bought at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:20) and understanding that we now belong to God helps us to see that we can no longer be self-sufficient. Because God "sends me," my life will change: I will not do what I want, but what God wants, in every area of my life.

p.33, The Prideful Soul’s Guide to Humility, Fontenot/Jones

MISSIO DEI

Discipleship Point

What is the significance of confession and repentance in receiving and participating in the MISSIO DEI (sending of God)?

Today we focus on part three:
(3) As a prophet sent to unbelieving and wicked Nineveh, Jonah confessed his sin of fleeing; he repented, and being forgiven, carried out God’s mission.

Repentance, which is a change of thinking and behavior, and forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47) is essential for Christ-followers to participate in the Missio Dei. Treasured people of God must confess their sins – sins of fleeing, sins of disobedience to God’s sending, failures to submit to His authority, sins of apathy, sins of arrogance. Above all, though, believers must receive forgiveness. Are repentance and forgiveness significant in the great sending of God?

Yes!

In arrogance, Christians today also can find fault with and dismiss other Christians who are responding to Christ’s sending and who are being used as instruments of God’s mission but are not considered to have pure theology or pure “Lutheran” traditions and liturgy. Christians today can be hindered, detracted from, or outright disobedient to God’s sending by such arrogance.

Distraction by multi-faceted doctrinal pressure points often tragically consumes God’s treasured and sent people. Let it be clear that doctrine can deliberately or by default become central instead of the Gospel, the Christ-centered Missio Dei. In His love, forgiveness, and peace, which transcends all understanding, together with and for the Missio Dei, God necessarily and indeed accompanies the sending with teaching – teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

(For further study see the Ten Commandments and the Office of the Keys and Confession, Christian Questions with Their Answers, Luther’s Small Catechism.) See the following Scriptures in your bible or on pp. 276-280 of The Great Sending book: Leviticus 16:9-10, Matthew 4:17, Luke 9:49-50, Luke 18:9-14, 1 John 1:8-10, Psalm 51:10-12, Joel 2:12-13, Psalm 51:17, Matthew 3:8.