If you owned a business or were the CEO of a major corporation, you would have a mission statement. This statement would show your clients and customers who you are by telling them what you believe about yourself and your product. Chick-fil-A, one of my favorite restaurants, has a bold mission statement that clearly represents the founder, Truett Cathy, and his commitment to Christ: ‘To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.’ Krispy Kreme, another preferred eating establishment of mine, posts their mission statement right on the side of the box of doughnuts: ‘We promise to continue to make good-tasting, high-quality products because that’s what you expect and deserve, and that’s what we expect of ourselves.’ Each of these companies takes their service seriously. They have this commitment to us, the consumer, and to themselves. As an avid supporter of both Krispy Kreme and Chick-fil-A, I can say without a doubt that both fulfill this pledge.
What about you and me? We too have pledged to serve. If we are serious about our faith, then we must be serious about being a light in the world. A personal mission statement is a great way to commit yourself to your mission and purpose. A few years ago, I developed my own mission statement to reflect my desire to serve God and be His ambassador. My personal mission statement is made up of three verses that are important to me. My personal mission statement is as follows: ‘I will always do Romans 12:2 so that I can live out Ephesians 4:1 to experience John 10:10b.’ Basically, what I am saying in this statement is that I will stop conforming to the world and continue to transform and renew my mind in order to know my life’s purpose, so I can live my life worthy of that purpose to have an abundant, full life in Christ. Notice that my mission statement is not a commitment to do a better job at work, be nicer to people, or give more to the poor. Rather, it is a summarizing declaration of who I am in Christ and what I want to live for. If I take this statement seriously, I will do a better job in ministry, be nicer to people, and give to the poor. I do these things not because they are objectives on a checklist but as an overflow of my love and commitment to Jesus Christ. I want to challenge you to think about what your mission statement might be. It does not have to be like mine, and it probably shouldn’t be because it needs to come from your heart. Think about how you see yourself in the body of Christ. Who do you think God wants you to be? Think about this and write it out. Once you come up with a personal mission statement, you should have a clearer picture of who you are in Christ and how to give your life away to serve Him.