What is your mission?
My mission, if I choose to accept it, is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
Borrowing from the Westminster Shorter Catechism, this mission aligns the whole of life with its ultimate purpose. As John Piper reframes it: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
But we live in a world full of missions. Whether it’s crafting a New Year’s resolution, striving for career success, or parenting through the seasons of childhood, everyone is pursuing something. These missions often shape our daily rhythms and long-term goals.
For many, crafting a personal mission statement offers clarity and focus. Every few years, I revisit my values and ask whether they align with my daily life and priorities. This exercise helps me focus on what matters most, alongside this it has also taught me something deeper.
Missions, as we often define them, are like to-do lists. They have a beginning, middle, and end. Once completed, we move on to the next. While this approach works for concrete goals—like finishing a project or achieving a fitness milestone—it can fall short when applied to life’s bigger intentions.
Take faith, family, or health, for instance. These aren’t tasks to be completed but lifelong priorities. They require ongoing attention, growth, and care. You don’t “finish” being faithful, raising your family, or looking after your body. These are life long responsibilities, not one-off missions.
Instead of viewing life’s intentions as a series of missions to accomplish, I’ve come to view them as as a set of sustainable priorities. Priorities allow for a lifelong focus, recognising that some tasks will never be fully completed but are worth our time and effort nonetheless.
If we turn for a moment to our theological understanding of mission, mission isn’t just personal—it’s part of a bigger story. Jesus gave His followers a clear mission in Matthew 28:19-20 (CSB):
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Similarly, in Acts 1:8 (CSB), Jesus said:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
This mission—the Great Commission—is ongoing. It’s not something we check off a list but a lifelong call to share the gospel and live as witnesses to Jesus.
This perspective reframes how we think about mission. It’s not about achieving a specific result but faithfully living out our calling in Christ.
It’s like building a house. A mission-driven approach might focus on completing individual rooms: the kitchen, the bedrooms, the living space. Each project has a clear endpoint.
But a priorities-driven approach sees the house as a home—a place that constantly requires attention, care, and investment. It’s not about “finishing” the house but creating a space where life can flourish.
Similarly, our faith is is a priority that requires daily investment—prayer, scripture, community, and service.
Central to our faith and its mission is to glorify God. This mission extends beyond church walls and spiritual disciplines into every corner of life. Colossians 3:17 (CSB) reminds us:
“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Whether we’re at work, raising a family, or simply enjoying the beauty of creation, our mission is to honour God in all we do.
The beauty of God’s mission is that while it remains unfinished in this life, it’s already fulfilled in Christ. Our call to glorify God and enjoy Him forever is both a present reality and an eternal hope.
So, what is your mission? Is it a project to complete, or a priority to pursue?
