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Sep 06, 2023 18:30pm

Remember the Mission

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We’ve all heard of the controversy surrounding the Disney organization. Workers finally started to speak out against the company’s policies, ways of conducting business and its vision. The CEO was fired and the former CEO took over once again.

So what was the problem? What’s the big deal about Disney?

They lost focus of their mission.

Who they are now is far different than Walt Disney had envisioned. Their values have changed and you can see it in every movie, show, and within the park itself.

Disney isn’t the same company it used to be.

Luke 9:51-56

“And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”

We have to give it to the disciples. They are eager and passionate about following Christ. They had been chosen by Jesus Himself to be a part of this group to learn from Him and share His message. They had been given the power to heal people and cast out demons. They walked daily with the Messiah! I can only image the sense of pride and power they must have felt.

And it rears its ugly head in this moment.

They are furious at the Samaritans for not welcoming them. A little background here – after Assyria had invaded the Northern kingdom of Israel, the remaining Jews mixed with them and became known as the Samaritans. To the Jewish people they were thought of as “less than” and the Samaritans hated the Jews because of it.

Jesus sent messengers ahead to secure them rooms to stay in Samaria on their journey to Jerusalem. It was the shortest distance to their destination. But the Samaritans, knowing these men were Jewish, refused them.

The disciples were furious! They were ready to call down fire from heaven like Elijah did and destroy these people.

How could these men who walked so closely with the Prince of Peace be so filled with anger and hate that they were ready to slaughter these men?

They had lost sight of their mission.

With one statement, Jesus brought their purpose back into focus.

“For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

As Christians, I think we can be guilty of this same thing. We are so busy doing the “work of God” that we often times find ourselves far away from where we started. And where we planned to go.

Programs, events, groups and committees aren’t a bad thing. They can be good for sure, but are they focused on the mission of Christ? Do we need to take a step back and refocus?

May we take the time to refocus our thoughts, plans and actions back to Jesus and His mission.