Getting Started On Mission
“All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” - Acts 1:14
Have you ever faced a huge task and felt unsure where to begin? Maybe you felt directionless, helpless, or just plain clueless. The only thing that was clear was that you had to get started. You likely turned to what you knew and to the people who could help.
Imagine how the disciples must have felt after Jesus ascended into heaven. He had given them a monumental mission: to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. He promised them the Holy Spirit would come to empower them. But then, He was gone. They were left with an enormous task and a sudden gap in their leadership team after the betrayal and death of Judas.
What did they do? They didn't panic or scatter. They turned to what they knew. The account in Acts 1:12-26 shows us a powerful truth: God has given us everything we need to get started on His mission. Following their example, we can see three essential practices for engaging in the work God has called us to do.
1. Be Devoted To Prayer
The first thing the disciples did was gather together to pray. Before they made any plans or tried to solve any problems, they turned to God. The passage says they were “constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” They were unified, with one accord, their hearts and minds focused on seeking God.
Prayer was not an afterthought; it was their first instinct. This should be our starting point as well. How different would our lives, our decisions, and our effectiveness in ministry be if we were truly devoted to prayer? Before you step into your day, before you make a choice, before you serve in your church or community, do you turn to God in prayer? Let prayer be the place where you start, where you return, and where you finish.
2. Be Dependent On Scripture
As the disciples waited and prayed, Peter stood up to address the situation of their missing apostle. He didn't offer his own opinion or a clever strategy. Instead, he turned their attention to the Scriptures. He grounded their understanding of Judas’s tragic betrayal in the words of Psalm 69 and Psalm 109, explaining that these events were foreseen by God and spoken of through King David.
Peter modeled for us the practical authority of the Bible in our lives. The disciples made sense of a confusing and painful event by looking through the lens of God's Word. They could see God’s sovereign hand at work even in tragedy, and it did not stop the mission.
The Bible does the same for us today. It gives us a framework for understanding the world around us and provides guidance for our next steps. When you don't know what to do, turn to Scripture. It shows us how to fill our time with what is best, spend our resources on things of eternal value, and build our lives around godly people. The answers we need are found in its pages.
3. Be Directed By Providence
Having understood their situation through Scripture, the disciples knew they needed to fill the apostolic office. They identified two qualified men: Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias. Both were excellent candidates who had been with Jesus from the beginning and had witnessed His resurrection.
With two good options before them, how did they decide? They prayed again, asking the Lord to show them His choice. Then, they used an ancient method called casting lots. This wasn't a game of chance. It was an act of faith, rooted in the belief that God is sovereign over all things. As Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
This teaches us how to move forward when we have multiple good options for serving Jesus. We can trust in God's providence, His active and guiding work in our lives. Look for where God is obviously at work and then move forward with joy, without stressing over the decision. The specific place He has you right now is your mission field. Be faithful in your job, in your neighborhood, and with the people around you. God will lead you.
God has given you all that you need to be successful on mission. Be devoted to prayer, dependent on His Word, and directed by His providence. He will equip you and guide you every step of the way.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us everything we need to follow the mission You have set before us. Help us to be people devoted to prayer, always seeking Your guidance in every step we take. Give us a deep love for Your Word and the wisdom to depend on Scripture for direction and understanding. Teach us to trust Your providence, knowing that You are always at work in our lives. As we face each day and the decisions in front of us, may we be faithful in what You have placed before us, confident that You will guide and provide. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have you ever faced a huge task and felt unsure where to begin? Maybe you felt directionless, helpless, or just plain clueless. The only thing that was clear was that you had to get started. You likely turned to what you knew and to the people who could help.
Imagine how the disciples must have felt after Jesus ascended into heaven. He had given them a monumental mission: to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. He promised them the Holy Spirit would come to empower them. But then, He was gone. They were left with an enormous task and a sudden gap in their leadership team after the betrayal and death of Judas.
What did they do? They didn't panic or scatter. They turned to what they knew. The account in Acts 1:12-26 shows us a powerful truth: God has given us everything we need to get started on His mission. Following their example, we can see three essential practices for engaging in the work God has called us to do.
1. Be Devoted To Prayer
The first thing the disciples did was gather together to pray. Before they made any plans or tried to solve any problems, they turned to God. The passage says they were “constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” They were unified, with one accord, their hearts and minds focused on seeking God.
Prayer was not an afterthought; it was their first instinct. This should be our starting point as well. How different would our lives, our decisions, and our effectiveness in ministry be if we were truly devoted to prayer? Before you step into your day, before you make a choice, before you serve in your church or community, do you turn to God in prayer? Let prayer be the place where you start, where you return, and where you finish.
2. Be Dependent On Scripture
As the disciples waited and prayed, Peter stood up to address the situation of their missing apostle. He didn't offer his own opinion or a clever strategy. Instead, he turned their attention to the Scriptures. He grounded their understanding of Judas’s tragic betrayal in the words of Psalm 69 and Psalm 109, explaining that these events were foreseen by God and spoken of through King David.
Peter modeled for us the practical authority of the Bible in our lives. The disciples made sense of a confusing and painful event by looking through the lens of God's Word. They could see God’s sovereign hand at work even in tragedy, and it did not stop the mission.
The Bible does the same for us today. It gives us a framework for understanding the world around us and provides guidance for our next steps. When you don't know what to do, turn to Scripture. It shows us how to fill our time with what is best, spend our resources on things of eternal value, and build our lives around godly people. The answers we need are found in its pages.
3. Be Directed By Providence
Having understood their situation through Scripture, the disciples knew they needed to fill the apostolic office. They identified two qualified men: Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias. Both were excellent candidates who had been with Jesus from the beginning and had witnessed His resurrection.
With two good options before them, how did they decide? They prayed again, asking the Lord to show them His choice. Then, they used an ancient method called casting lots. This wasn't a game of chance. It was an act of faith, rooted in the belief that God is sovereign over all things. As Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
This teaches us how to move forward when we have multiple good options for serving Jesus. We can trust in God's providence, His active and guiding work in our lives. Look for where God is obviously at work and then move forward with joy, without stressing over the decision. The specific place He has you right now is your mission field. Be faithful in your job, in your neighborhood, and with the people around you. God will lead you.
God has given you all that you need to be successful on mission. Be devoted to prayer, dependent on His Word, and directed by His providence. He will equip you and guide you every step of the way.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us everything we need to follow the mission You have set before us. Help us to be people devoted to prayer, always seeking Your guidance in every step we take. Give us a deep love for Your Word and the wisdom to depend on Scripture for direction and understanding. Teach us to trust Your providence, knowing that You are always at work in our lives. As we face each day and the decisions in front of us, may we be faithful in what You have placed before us, confident that You will guide and provide. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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