Aug. 22, 2026: SENT WITH THE HEART OF GOD

BIG IDEA: It’s important to determine if our personal greater purpose actually matches up with God’s greater purpose for our lives.

Reading:
Matthew 28:18-20
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
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 all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

2 Corinthians 5:18-20
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them,
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

John 20:21
“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’”
Jonah wanted a version of God’s mercy that stayed close to home. He wanted grace for himself and judgment for his enemies.
But God’s heart has always been bigger than Jonah’s boundaries.
The same God who sent Jonah to Nineveh has now sent His church into the world. Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Paul says we have been given “the ministry of reconciliation.” Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Devotional:
God’s greater purpose is not only that we receive mercy. It is that we become messengers of mercy.

We are not saved to sit under our plants…or to sit on our pants.  We are saved to carry the gospel to people who do not yet know their right hand from their left. We are saved to become ambassadors of Christ, people through whom God makes His appeal to the world.

The mercy that reached you was never meant to stop with you.  You have been sent.  We have all been sent!

Reflection:
Who has God placed in your life, workplace, neighborhood, school, or family who needs to see and hear the mercy of Jesus through you?

Practical Application:
Take one intentional step of gospel obedience today. Send a message, schedule a coffee, invite someone to church, share your testimony, offer to pray for someone, or have a spiritual conversation you have been avoiding.

Pray this before you go:
“Lord, give me Your heart for lost people. Make me willing to go where You send me, speak when You lead me, and love people with the mercy You have shown me. My greater purpose belongs to You.”

Song of the Day:
Casting Crowns - Until The Whole World Hears