Skip to content ↓

Day Thirty Six – Made For A Mission

Articles Collection cover image

Day thirty six of The Purpose Driven Life begins the discussion of my fifth and final purpose, “made for a mission.” God is at work in the world and He wants me to join Him in doing this work. I am to have a ministry within the body of believers and a mission to the rest of the world as my service to unbelievers. Warren provides several reasons why my mission is important.

  • My mission is a continuation of Jesus’ mission on earth. Jesus commissioned us to carry on the work He began – the work of taking the Good News to the rest of the world. To ignore this call is to be disobedient to Him.
  • My mission is a wonderful privilege. It is a great privilege and responsibility to be used by God.
  • Telling others how they can have eternal life is the greatest thing I can do for them. Telling people how they can find forgiveness, purpose, peace and eternal life is the best thing I can do for anyone. I need to tell them how they are hopelessly lost without Christ and share with them how He can find them.
  • My mission has eternal significance. My mission has an eternal impact. The greatest thing I can do with my life is to share the Good News – nothing else will ever matter as much as this.
  • My mission gives my life meaning. By living out my mission I can live my life for something that outlives it. The results of these activities will last forever.
  • God’s timetable for history’s conclusion is connection to the completion of our commission. Jesus said that the end of the world will not come until the gospel has been preached in every nation. If I want Jesus to return sooner I need to focus on getting the Gospel out to every nation.

To fulfill my mission I need to abandon my own agenda for my life and accept God’s agenda. I need to make fulfilling my mission a top priority. Nothing matters more to God than lost people so I need to do all I can do fulfill this purpose for my life.

Bible Passages

Warren quotes the Bible twenty two times using seven translations and paraphrases. Generally he quotes accurate translations within the proper context.

Point to Ponder

Today’s point to ponder is “I was made for a mission.” It seems to me that the biggest result of Rick Warren’s writing, both in The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church is an intense focus on The Great Commission. Though it has always been regarded as important, I believe recently it has been seen as being of utmost importance. I guess it only makes sense to pay attention to the last words Jesus spoke before He left the earth. His last command to His disciples, and thus to the church, was that they were to spread the Gospel to the entire world. This command has been the driving force behind many evangelists and many missionaries.

It is my prayer that this commission will be a driving force in my life, that I will truly come to understand the importance of taking God’s Word to all the world. I pray that my life will be used to spread the Good News to those God puts in my path.

Up Next

Tomorrow’s topic is Sharing Your Life Message


  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (April 24)

    A La Carte: He cares for us / Will the pope to go heaven? / An easy Christian faith / The good we cannot see / Chickens, elephants, and freedom / When we skip the prophets / Kindle and book deals / and more.

  • Francis

    Did Francis Prove To Be “The Humble Pope?”

    Francis’ time as pope has come to an end and already many are attempting to define his legacy. Was he a reformer? Was he a progressive? Was he an apostate? Perspectives are wildly varied with some honoring him as the greatest pope of modern times and some dishonoring him as a disgrace to the office.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (April 23)

    A La Carte: How to begin a conversation with a dechurched friend / Machen was right / The truth of Christ’s resurrection / When grief becomes sin / Nope to the media’s ideal for a new pope / Book sale / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (April 22)

    A La Carte: Pope Francis / Yes, Jesus was crucified with nails / The mystery of “the call” / Just a little bit / The last of the four / John outran Peter / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Will You Be a Pillar?

    How do we lead in a culture shaped by performance, individualism, and platform? Platforms to Pillars by cultural commentator Mark Sayers offers a biblical alternative to the platform mentality that dominates our society. Drawing from the ancient world, Sayers challenges Christians to become pillars—people who provide strength and support for others, who live with character…

  • The Tallest Trees

    The Winds Blow Hardest Against the Tallest Trees

    Through the weekend had many questions about Christian leaders who fall. And I expressed that just as the winds blow hardest against the tallest trees, so temptations may press hardest against the leaders who rise the highest. Just as floods press against shallow roots, so seductive desires rise up against those whose fall would bring…