“Missions exist because worship doesn’t.”

The words are from John Piper, and he’s right. Jesus is the Lamb that was slain so that he might purchase for himself people from every nation, skin color, and language. And because there are still people who are not worshipping, the mission of the church to them continues.

It is for this reason that when we encounter God, we will always hear Him say, “Whom shall I send…who will go?” God uses worship as his sending agent.

Worship is not only the goal of missions, but also the driving force and motivator of missions. It spurs us on, encouraging and strengthening us while we are on mission. And so the cycle continues as worship of the almighty God becomes both the beginning and the end.

You see this in the life of Jonah. Like many of us, he was running from God, caught in disobedience and rebellion. And yet God relentlessly pursued him, even to the belly of a great fish.

It is there that in an effort to turn from his doubts and disobedience, he cries out to God and says, “Salvation belongs to the Lord!” (Jonah 2:9). He is motivated to action by remembering the God he serves and worshiping Him.

When you are running from God, the perfect remedy is to remember who God is, what he has done for you, and then worship. What he has asked of you will transform from an impossible task into a small expression of worship to a God who gave everything so that salvation could be yours.