God's Mission

Luke 18:9-14

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

• In Christ, we go home justified before God, rejoicing that He exalts all who humble themselves before Him.

Pondering Point

While Jesus originally oriented this parable around our righteousness before God, it can cast light on our heart’s desires as well. When we exalt our desires above the Lord’s we can expect to be humbled by Him. When we submit the desires of our hearts under Him, seeking His kingdom and His righteousness first, He will "give us the desires of our heart". (Psalm 37:4). The heart can be a wonderful home to honorable and godly desires, just as it is home to God Himself.

Tuesday’s Immersion always reflects back to the mission of God. As followers of God, we want to make sure that our heart’s desires, hopes, and dreams don’t conflict with His heart’s desires, hopes, and dreams -- for us and others. Ideally, our heart’s desires will align with God’s. Our goals will connect with His and our plans will submit to His. That being said, the bible has likened us to sheep who go astray, whose hearts can be found far from God. Which desires of your heart…

God’s overall mission for His disciples is to make other disciples (see Matthew 28:16-20). That mission should always include the hallmark principles of God’s kingdom: Love for God at the heart, mind, soul and body levels and love for our neighbors as ourselves.

That mission drives us as a church and preschool. The vision before us is making disciples of Jesus who make disciples. As you begin to craft a personal discipleship prayer, ask a personal question or two:

• Do you view yourself as a disciple of Jesus? This is specifically what Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19: "Make disciples".
• In your desire (hopefully) to be who God wants you to be, how are you fitting God into your life? How are you fitting His mission into your life and into the local church’s vision to make disciples? Dive into 1 Corinthians 12 for insight about the Body of Christ and consider journaling about your role in it.

This doesn’t necessarily mean becoming a pastor or joining some foreign mission field. Daily discipleship happens in the local mission field where you live your daily life; be the body of Christ in local context. It is time to rewrite today’s prayer in your own words.