“The Christmas Mission” During the Christmas season, I am on a mission to decorate the whole house, send Christmas cards, and prepare a gift list by the first Monday in December. I must admit that sometimes I fail because things don’t always go as planned. However, upon further reflection, all this preparation seems insignificant compared to God’s mission.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we recognize that Christmas is about God’s mission to save and redeem those who are lost. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
In the small town of Bethlehem, a special baby was born destined to save people from eternal death and loss. “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
Jesus, as he matured into adulthood, never wavered from the mission of saving everyone who believes. He was focused, determined, and committed to saving those who were lost. He was resolute in His mission to redeem humanity.
Jesus is our example! Just like Him, we should be as focused and enthusiastic about our mission. What is our mission? It is the one Jesus gave to the disciples before leaving earth—to go and make disciples. It’s that simple. We have the privilege of partnering with the Divine to connect women, men, girls, and boys to Jesus for life transformation and eternal salvation.
One of the beautiful aspects of this mission is how it unites all of us. Though we may come from different backgrounds or have diverse perspectives, we can be aligned by the mission, which is why our theme for this current quinquennium is “One Body, One Mission.”
As one church body, we can unite to carry out God’s purpose within the Northern California Conference territory of more than eight million people. We are commissioned to reach each one with the good news of hope and wholeness.
So, this Christmas, let’s be on a mission to reach our family members, neighbors, co-workers, and friends with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s look for opportunities to share the love of Jesus. It may mean going out of our way or our comfort zone. Either way, it will reflect the same spirit Jesus had when He became flesh and dwelt among us. That is the Christmas mission.
Marc K. Woodson, President
Merry Christmas!
Featured in Northern Lights, December 22, 2022
