ALL IN FOR GOD’S MISSION

When it comes to God’s mission, we are called to be all in. The Apostle Paul exemplified this missional mindset by devoting his life to preaching the gospel, shaping lives, and enduring suffering for the sake of Christ. But how did he stay faithful despite so much suffering? Through Paul’s writings, we can learn four key motivations to help us go all in for Jesus and His mission, as outlined in the acronym P.A.L.M.

Perspective

In 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, Paul reminds us that though we are wasting away outwardly, inwardly we are being renewed. He calls the trials that we face “momentary light affliction” compared to the eternal glory that lies ahead. The key? Perspective — fixing our eyes not on the visible and temporary, but on the unseen and eternal.

Despite being afflicted, persecuted, and beaten (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 11:24-28), Paul’s mindset remained anchored in hope. He even exhorts in Romans 5:3-4 that he rejoices in suffering because it produces perseverance, character, and hope. Moreover, Paul saw death not as defeat but as gain, and thus longed for eternity, knowing that our earthly bodies are temporary (2 Corinthians 5:1-4).

Accountability

Paul’s ambition is revealed in 2 Corinthians 5:9-10: to please God, knowing that one day we will all stand before Christ for judgment (Ephesians 2:8-9). Paul also warns us in 1 Corinthians 3:12-14 that our work will be tested. It’s possible to be saved and yet waste our lives if we don’t live for Christ’s mission. Accountability calls us to evaluate who we are trying to please in our lives.

Love

In 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Paul reveals that the love of Christ fuels his devotion. Love wasn’t just an emotion; it was a driving force for Paul that compelled him to live not for himself but for Jesus. We see this love in action in John 21:15-17. When Peter denied Jesus, Christ restored him by asking, “Do you love me?” Love rekindled Peter’s mission, and it must fuel ours too. Loving Jesus leads us to go all-in.

Mission

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). God has given us the ministry of reconciliation, which involves sharing with others the gospel that saved us. As ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20-21), we are sent to proclaim that God made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf so that we might become righteous. This is the mission. We are not just saved — we are also sent.

Paul’s life shows us what it means to go all in for God’s mission. It requires the right perspective, a deep sense of accountability, a heart driven by love, and a clear sense of mission. The same call is on us today: to live fully for the One who gave us everything. Go all in for God’s mission today!