There is no Jesus in our shadow mission. Beneath our mission for God lies our shadow mission. All Christians have one. Some give in to it, some about to and some don’t, but it lurks beneath the surface nonetheless.
As I listened to John Ortberg teaching this evening, I wonder about what is my shadow mission. I think I know what it is, but was afraid to admit it. John took us through the book of Esther, where Queen Esther has a shadow mission. In the previous chapter, King Xerxes' chief of staff, Haman because of his hatred for Mordecai, Queen Esther's uncle, plot to destroy the Jews. But Esther was afraid to challenge the King to save her people since Queen Esther is a Jew.
This is what she said to Mordecai, "All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king."
Mordecai sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
If you continued to read the book of Esther, Esther saved her people from destruction, Haman was hanged for his hatred and Mordecai became the King's chief of staff.
Esther's shadow mission was life of comfort and security and her genuine mission was to save the Jew so our Lord Jesus can be born.
1. What is your shadow mission in life?
What sinister things that will take you out of your genuine mission?
Find out what it is and pray that God will keep you away from it. Share it with your trusted friends so they can hold you accountable for it.
2. Did God put you in royal position right now or where you are right now for a reason?
3. Who is Mordecai in your life?
Do you have someone in your life who love you enough to challenge you when you are drifting from God's will?
We need more Mordecai in our life. Somebody that will challenge us and hold us accountable.
How many time churches and organizations got destroyed because of scandals because we are afraid to challenge someone.
How many time the name of Jesus Christ got dragged through the mud because we are afraid to challenge someone...
