The final step

Today, we will look at the last of the five habits of highly missional people listed in Michael Frost’s book by that title. My prayer for you and for me is that we would continue to live out these habits weekly.

Putting the five habits together forms an acronym spelling the word B-E-L-L-S:

I will BLESS three people each week, at least one of whom is unchurched (generosity).
I will EAT with three people this week, at least one of whom is unchurched (hospitality).
I will spend at least one period of the week LISTENING for the Spirit’s voice (spirit-led).
I will spend at least one period of the week LEARNING Christ (Christ-like).
I will journal throughout the week all the ways I was SENT out to alert people of God’s rulership in my life through Christ.

These habits will help you live your life on mission. Our English term, mission, comes from the Latin word “missio” which means to send, to be ejected or pushed out. All of us are missionaries, sent out, to tell others of God’s reign in our hearts through Christ.

If our lives are to alert people to Christ, and what He has done for us, how might we do this? Let me suggest four things:

1. Reconciliation – we are to announce God’s reconciliation to the world and demonstrate it (be reconciled to others, broker reconciliation among others).
2. Justice – the Bible calls us to defend and uphold the poor, the powerless, and the disadvantaged. We can demonstrate God’s rulership through Christ in our lives by helping to eliminate sex trafficking, fighting against homelessness, opening our homes to the poor – promoting justice. Journal the ways you were sent to show justice in your world this week.
3. Beauty – the heavens declare the glory of God. You can alert others of the beauty of God by observing His creation, appreciating the arts, music and crafts. Help others see the majesty of God – that indeed, He rules the world – through appreciating beauty.
4. Wholeness – Jesus came into the world and proved He was the Messiah through the miracles He performed – blind received sight, lame walked, those with leprosy were cleansed, the deaf heard, the dead were raised and the Good News was proclaimed to the poor.

The healing of broken people – repairing a broken marriage, praying for physical healing, providing emergency relief to victims of natural disasters – show them what His rulership will look like someday. Helping people understand that only Jesus can make them whole is a primary evidence that He shall rule the earth someday. We are sent out today to tell people of the day in which every knee in heaven and earth and under the earth will declare that He is Lord.

Have fun declaring these five habits. Occasionally, send me an email to let me know how you are doing.

Be a blessing,