1 Jacob Abshire Dr. Carol Harding Foundations of Learning 26 February 2015 Personal Mission Statement Nothing is more thrilling to me than merging the creative arts with academic teaching to make disciples of Christ. My calling is to foster biblical discipleship through creative training resources. In doing this, each living moment moves beyond the ordinary, no matter how socially mundane, to the extraordinary. Life becomes an exhilarating ride whereby I am carried from one exciting place to another. Gordon Smith, author of Courage and Calling, says this delight is the result of personal life congruently lived with personal mission (51). It is the fruit of walking in God s design. Since my personal mission is defined by God and discovered by His leading, it shapes my life by clarifying vision and motivating heart. DEFINING MISSION IN GOD Life missions begin with the Creator of life itself. Scripture tells us we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (ESV, Eph. 2:10). In other words, God designs, empowers, and possesses our calling. He designs it by fashioning its vivid and timely definition. He also fashions the methods and maturation. The methods are how we effectively accomplish our mission. The maturation is how we develop our effectiveness. Both go hand-in-hand with God s design.
2 Furthermore, it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). The Lord not only designs our calling, but empowers and possesses our calling. He equips us physically, mentally, and spiritually for the mission He uniquely designed. He does this by forming us with distinct talents and temperaments and shaping us with specific desires and delights. He also fills us with His Spirit and develops us with His Word. As necessary owner of our callings, He sets the standard and expects the return. We are, as Smith conveyed, stewards of God s gift of mission (18). Our life is His design on loan. He expects our obedience to His plan, our care for His endowments, and our delight in His grace. Our calling is sacred for no more powerful reason than that it comes from God (Smith 44). Church father Irenaeus is often credited with a statement that resonates within me: The glory of God is the human person fully alive (qtd. in Smith 19). We would be right to esteem our calling for what it is our unique way to glorify God by living fully. DISCOVERING MISSION IN LIFE If God defines, empowers, and possesses our mission, we can therefore discover it in life specifically through Bible study, diligent prayer, and personal reflection. Bible study is our way to know the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). For in the Scriptures, we discover God s design for humanity as a whole as well as His design for individuals. We can see that all humanity is to ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name (1 Chron. 16:29). This can occur at an individual level by responding positively to God s inward call to salvation (2 Pet. 3:9). After that, God desires for us to be Spirit-filled, sanctified, submissive, and suffering for His name s sake, as described in John MacArthur s book, Found: God s Will. This is what Scripture unpacks about God s will for us.
3 Prayer should accompany Bible study. E.M. Bounds, known for his writings on prayer, wrote, The Word of God is the fulcrum upon which the lever of prayer is placed, and by which things are mightily moved (Bounds 44). Prayer energizes the application of what you discover in your Bible study. It is how we seek God s help and surrender to God s will. It is where our weaknesses are transformed into strengths. Without persistent and tenacious prayer, we have little connection between what God said and what He intends for our lives. As a result, God s mission will not be easily discovered nor effectively developed. In additional to diligent prayer, we must deliberately and consistently bring ourselves to reflection in order to see ourselves truthfully (Rom. 12:3). Since our calling comes from God, it denotes our fundamental identity (Smith 51). It shapes our very existence. Therefore, we may discover our calling by considering our affinities, abilities, and opportunities (Keller 4). We should ask ourselves questions like, What needs of others deeply stir up my affections? What are my obvious abilities and deficiencies? Where do others say I am most strategically needed? (Sterne). By seeing yourself truthfully, you can better discern your personal mission. APPLYING MISSION TO LIFE Coming full circle, I have identified my strengths and weaknesses, my gifts and challenges, my delights and dismays, and prayerfully considered what God desires for me as a Christian. Along with community affirmation and confirmation, I have discovered my mission in life to utilize creative arts as a means to teach God s Word in order to mature His saints. Knowing my mission has been both clarifying and motivating.
4 First, it clarifies my vision as a way of external life application. Popular American educator Stephen Covey argued for clear vision, saying, To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination (Covey 105). Man s chief end is to glorify God (Watson 13). But, we glorify God by living fully the unique mission He has given us. Having sight of our chief end through our chief work helps us define goals, priorities, and limitations. Therefore, knowing my vocation helps me to steward my time, talent, and treasure. It also positions me to better establish priorities so I can devote myself to the most important and beneficial activities. And, it enables me to more easily discern my own limitations, which will inform me when I should rely on the help of those who are more gifted. Second, knowing my mission motivates my heart, which is internal life application. By motivating me, it brings resolve, courage, and joy. Resolve comes naturally when a certain ending is clearly seen. Having a definite picture of my mission, I am able to commit myself to a real purpose. Therefore, I work with fixed aim and determination. I see the target and I shoot for it. At the same time, knowing my mission motivates my heart by bringing courage. Bravery is the product of certain truth and solid conviction. When I am convinced of my God-given destination, I am encouraged to get there by His strength, trusting He will empower me along the way. Finally, resolve and courage help me accomplish my mission each day, which stimulates inner joy. Again, nothing is more thrilling than fulfilling my mission. True, deep, lasting joy bursts from my heart when my divinely designed work is being done. John Piper famously said, God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. I believe the satisfaction Piper
5 had in mind was the joy experienced in pleasing God. In applying my mission to life, I find clarity of vision and motivation of heart. CONCLUSION Since God is the author and revealer of my mission, His graces are evident in my life. It is my desire and my joy to be poured out as a drink offering unto the Lord (2 Tim. 4:6). When my life is over, I want to say as Paul said when his life was over, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Tim. 4:7). Then will my joy find its completion. The good fight, the struggle to prioritize God s will and fulfill His plan, is my deepest yearning. I hope to strive well, end strong, and remain faithful. It is my personal mission.
6 Works Cited Bounds, E.M. The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer: Experience the Wonders of God through Prayer. Ada, MI: Baker Books, 2004. Google Books. Web. 24 Feb. 2015 Covey, Stephen R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1989. Print. Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2001. Print. Keller, Timothy. Vocation: Discerning Your Calling. Redeemer City to City. 2011. PDF file. MacArthur, John. Found: God's Will: Find the Direction and Purpose God Wants for Your Life. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2012. Print. Piper, John. God is Most Glorified in Us When We Are Most Satisfied in Him. Desiring God. Desiring God Foundation, 13 Oct. 2012. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. Smith, Gordon T. Courage & Calling: Embracing Your God-given Potential. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2011. Print. Sterne, Julia. Neat & Tidy Tips for Figuring Out Your Call: Pt. 1. St. Peter s Fireside. St. Peter s Fireside Vancouver Church, 18 Oct. 2011. Web. 28 Jan. 2015. Watson, Thomas. A Body of Divinity. Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. 1689. PDF file.