Mission as Participation

 

 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”- Matthew 28:19–20

David Bosch taught that mission is not a human initiative. It is God’s movement toward the world, and the Church is invited to participate. He wrote, “Mission is not primarily an activity of the Church, but an attribute of God. God is a missionary God.”

This means we don’t invent mission strategies to serve our goals. We discern where God is already at work—in the margins, in the broken places, in the quiet stirrings of grace—and we join Him there. Bosch emphasized that mission must be holistic: proclaiming the gospel, seeking justice, and embodying reconciliation.

He also warned against reducing mission to mere recruitment or expansion. True mission is incarnational, shaped by the cross, and marked by humility. It is the Church living as a sign, instrument, and foretaste of the Kingdom.

Reflection:

Am I participating in God’s mission—or asking God to bless mine? Bosch’s theology invites us to listen, to be sent, and to live as witnesses of a Kingdom that is already breaking in.

Prayer:

Missionary God, thank You for inviting me into Your redemptive work. Help me to see where You are moving and to follow with courage and compassion. May my life reflect Your love and truth in every place You send me.

Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

      

Jesus' Gift of Peace

Jesus said, “I leave you peace; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does. So don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” -JOHN 14:27

In the Jewish culture, the Hebrew shalom is a customary greeting for both “hello” and “goodbye.” Shalom means “peace” and so much more. It implies a wish for health, prosperity, and wholeness. It also expresses a wish for an absence of both internal and external strife.

As Jesus prepared to say goodbye to his closest friends, it was the night of the Last Supper. He bid them shalom. Jesus’ words of farewell were far more than a traditional blessing. They were a gift only the Prince of Peace himself can offer. Jesus offered his followers peace of mind and heart. This peace was unlike the peace of the world they knew. It depended solely on his followers’ relationship with him.

These words of Jesus are like his Last Will and Testament. Just as a will records how to divide possessions among survivors, John 14:27 records our inheritance. Jesus bequeathed a priceless treasure to all those who follow him. In fact, his gift has set us up for life—both this one and the next. That’s because the wholeness found in Jesus’ gift of peace is at the heart of true happiness. As we pursue peace by pursuing Jesus, we’ll find we are holding the true key to living the good life.

Jesus’ gift of peace offers us an alternative to fear and worry, a foretaste of heaven available here and now. As with any inheritance, we have to accept it and use it to enjoy its true benefits.