You Were Made for This: Turning Sinners into Missionaries
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What if the most rebellious person you know is actually one prayer away from becoming the most powerful witness for Jesus? What if God's plan for the lost isn't just salvation, but transformation into a soldier for His kingdom?
This is the mission. And it belongs to every follower of Jesus.
The Great Commission Is Not Optional
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He issued a command:
"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."
— Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)
This is the Great Commission. Not the Great Suggestion. Not the Great Option for the spiritually gifted. Every believer is called to go into their neighborhoods, workplaces, families, social media feeds, wherever you are and and bring people into the kingdom.
Why God Uses the Broken to Reach the Broken
Here's the radical truth: God doesn't wait for people to clean themselves up before He uses them. He meets them in the mess and then sends them back into the mess to reach others.
Look at the pattern throughout Scripture:
- Paul — once a murderer of Christians, became the greatest missionary the church has ever known (Acts 9:1–22).
- Mary Magdalene — delivered from seven demons, became the first witness of the resurrection (Luke 8:2; John 20:11–18).
- The Samaritan Woman — living in sin, had five husbands, yet after one encounter with Jesus she ran back to her entire city and brought them to Him (John 4:1–42).
- Zacchaeus — a corrupt tax collector, transformed by one dinner with Jesus into a man who gave back fourfold (Luke 19:1–10).
God specializes in turning the worst sinners into the most effective missionaries. Why? Because their testimony is undeniable. When someone who was deep in darkness walks in radical light, the world takes notice.
"And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." — Revelation 12:11 (ESV)
Satan's Greatest Fear: A Transformed Life
The enemy knows that a redeemed sinner is a dangerous weapon. That's why he works so hard to keep people in shame, addiction, and isolation, Because a person who believes they're too far gone will never step into their calling.
But Jesus came specifically for the lost:
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." — Luke 19:10 (ESV)
"I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
— Luke 5:32 (ESV)
Every person you write off as "too far gone" is exactly the kind of person Jesus came for. And when they encounter Him, they don't just get saved, they get sent.
The Ripple Effect: One Life Changes Many
Think about the Samaritan woman again. One conversation with Jesus. One transformed life. An entire city came to believe (John 4:39). That's the kingdom math. One redeemed life multiplies into many.
This is why your mission matters. You may be the only Bible someone ever reads. You may be the one conversation that shifts someone's eternity.
"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" — Romans 10:14 (ESV)
How to Be on Mission: A Practical Guide
Being on mission doesn't require a seminary degree or a pulpit. Here's how to start where you are:
1. Pray for the Lost by Name
Make a list of 3–5 people in your life who don't know Jesus. Pray for them daily. Ask God to open doors, soften hearts, remove the scales from their eyes and give you the right words. Prayer is the foundation of every mission.
"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
— Matthew 9:37–38 (ESV)
2. Show Up in Their World
Jesus didn't wait for sinners to come to the temple, He went to their homes, their parties, their fishing boats. Go where the lost are. Be present. Be consistent. Be genuinely interested in their lives.
3. Share Your Story
You don't need a perfect theology to share what Jesus has done in your life. Your testimony is your most powerful tool. Tell it honestly, humbly, and boldly.
4. Speak Truth in Love
Don't water down the gospel to make it comfortable. But deliver it with compassion, not condemnation. People need to know they are loved before they can receive correction.
"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ." — Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)
5. Disciple, Don't Just Evangelize
The Great Commission calls us to make disciples, not just converts. Once someone comes to faith, walk with them. Invite them into community. Teach them the Word. Help them find their own mission.
6. Trust the Holy Spirit
You are not responsible for the results, only for your obedience. The Holy Spirit does the work of conviction and transformation. Your job is to show up and be faithful.
"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." — John 16:8 (ESV)
Remember: You Were Once Lost Too
Before you were a follower of Jesus, you were exactly the person someone else was praying for. Someone was faithful enough to share the gospel with you. Now it's your turn.
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." — Romans 5:8 (ESV)
The mission is about being grateful enough to share what you've been given, not to be better than the someone you used to be.
A Prayer for the Mission
Father, thank You for seeking me when I was lost. Thank You for sending someone into my life who cared enough to share the gospel. Now, Lord, send me. Give me eyes to see the people around me the way You see them. Not as too far gone, but as one encounter away from transformation. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Give me boldness to speak, wisdom to know when to listen, and love that doesn't give up. Use my story, my failures, and my faith to draw others to You. Turn the sinners in my life into the missionaries of tomorrow. For Your glory and Your kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.