On Mission With Jesus
"That is a missionary's life; to plant where another shall reap."
Willa Cather
The Mission Is Bigger Than Us
A missionary, biblically speaking, is simply a follower of Jesus sent into the world with His message of love and reconciliation (Matthew 28:19–20; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20). But here’s the key: the mission isn’t about us. It includes us, but it’s really about Him—His love for the world.
We often slip into measuring mission by visible results—souls saved, churches planted, numbers counted. But Jesus calls us to faithfulness, not flashiness. Our role is to sow. His role is to bring the harvest.
Seeds Don’t Grow Overnight
Paul put it this way: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Imagine a farmer pacing his field the day after planting, yelling at the soil: “Grow faster! People are watching!” Silly, right? Yet that’s often how we approach mission—demanding visible results on our timeline.
But seeds don’t grow overnight. The soil looks still, yet life is forming beneath the surface. Our job is obedience. His job is outcome.
The Farmer’s Lesson
Jesus used farming metaphors for a reason. Farmers understand the unseen work of seasons. You plant, you water, you wait. Faith in the soil is faith in the process. Mission works the same way. Acts of kindness, words of truth, prayers sown in faith may remain hidden for years—but they are not wasted.
Buried seed is not dead seed. It’s hope planted in God’s field.
Freedom From Results
Here’s the good news: being on mission isn’t about producing outcomes—it’s about abiding in Christ and letting His love flow through us. He said, “Apa
rt from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
That means success is measured not in numbers but in surrender.
Yes, sow generously. Yes, water faithfully. But release the harvest to Him. Otherwise, we’ll carry a weight we were never designed to bear.
Reflection