The Christian’s Commission

This commission relates primarily to the apostles, who were first in privilege as they were in suffering, but it applies to every believer today. Each Christian has been sent into the world for a definite object.

The words “as” and “so” suggest some parallels between our Lord being sent by the Father and our being sent by Christ.

In John’s Gospel, the Lord Jesus often refers to His being sent by the Father: “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me”; “My doctrine is not Mine but His that sent Me”; “I must work the works of Him that sent Me.” And Paul, in recounting his conversion, tells how the Lord Jesus had said to him, “I will send thee far hence to the Gentiles.” The burden of the Lord’s commission lay heavy upon him: “Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel.” One of the two great motives that actuated Paul’s ministry was a sense of responsibility to the One who had sent him. On the other hand, our Lord came willingly. He “on wings of love came down.” Paul could never forget the wonder of Christ’s amazing love to him: “Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Thus Paul’s other great motive in service was the sense of Christ’s love: “The love of Christ constraineth us.” Every believer therefore is both a pressed man and a volunteer. In actual experience this involves no contradiction. We are sent and yet we go willingly.

The Lord Jesus was sent to glorify the Father: “I have glorified Thee on the earth; I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.” And Paul’s deep ambition was to fulfill the ministry which he had received from Christ, to the glory of His Name. This ambition should be ours too. Nothing satisfies so fully as to know that we are here for the glory of the Lord. “The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” We can go no higher than that; it is the “summum bonum” of life here and hereafter.

What will be the effect on our souls if gripped by the fact that we have been sent into the world with a definite purpose? There will be a deeper humility, rest and serenity. We shall not fret against His will and purpose that has not accorded us five talents, but shall seek to use what we have, in the fear of the Lord. To do the will of God is success. Moses was the “meekest” of men. The heart that bends will never break. John Newton’s notion of the two angels is well known: if one were commissioned to govern a kingdom, and the other to sweep a crossing, each would be equally satisfied with his God-appointed task. To know that we are in the current of the Lord’s mind furnishes the answer to the prayer: “I would not have the restless will that hurries to and fro.”

And if we are sent to live our life and do our work, we shall have holy confidence and hope. For the Lord’s authority will be behind us. We will not have gone on a warfare at our own charges. As His instrument and His voice, our work and our witness must accomplish something for His Kingdom.

If it is thrust home upon us that our life is a mission, our impetus will come from God. There will be a driving force in our lives. We shall not be like so much flotsam and jetsam floating aimlessly on the waves, but rather as ships urged forward by a mighty inward force, following a definite course, bound for a definite destination, and fulfilling a definite service in the King’s business. Our lives will not be a patchwork of effort today and apathy tomorrow, but will be continually charged with the energy of concentration and the force of unity.