When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”
37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.”
In the early days of the Apollo moon missions, the computing power available was significantly more limited than that even of a smart phone today. Still, however, the astronauts relied on computer guidance and programing to get them to the moon and back home to earth. I recall an especially tense scene in the movie Apollo 13. The astronauts had to use a optical sight to align the space ship’s trajectory so that they would hit the earth at the right angle. They didn’t want to bounce off the earth’s atmosphere, or hit it so hard that their ship would burn up on reentry. They needed to keep the ship from drifting off course.
In the life of the church – and of every Christian – we must guard against drifting off course in a different way. The most grave mission drift is the drift into sin. That is a gravely dangerous drift, and is powerfully expressed in the word trespassing. We go off the path. We miss the mark (which is to what the word sin actually refers). Such drifting is harmful to our souls, to others, and grieves God (cf. Ephesians 4:30-32).
Mission drift is also a danger for us. We can forget why we are here and lose our bearings, wandering away from God’s plan and intent for us. Martin Luther speaks of this when he explains the Second Article of the Apostle’s Creed. He speaks of Jesus’ suffering and death, and the redemption he won for us, “so that I may be his own and live under him in his kingdom and serve him…”
We are redeemed so that we may serve Christ. We do that as we serve one another, and as we join Jesus on his mission. This is our calling. Sometimes, however, we forget.
I’m reminded of this when I watch – in my mind’s eye – Paul being carried up the stairs by the soldiers. They suppose he is a violent rebel who led 4000 men into the wilderness. They were keeping him safe only so they could punish him properly. Imagine their surprise when Paul speaks to them in Greek, and asks to speak to the crowd.
Paul is all about mission focus. He won’t let go of the mission of God. The mission of God has captured his heart. He will do whatever is necessary to witness to Jesus Christ and call people to repentance and faith in him.
We are not all called to be carried up stairs by soldiers and then ask to speak to the crowd. But we each have our realm of influence. We are all part of God’s mission to seek and save the lost. We can all play a part in growing God’s kingdom. Some by prayer. Some by hospitality. Some by serving. Some by traveling great distances to share the gospel. Some to preach. Some to teach. Some to listen. Some to advise. Some to witness to God’s grace in their lives.
Whatever part we play, we do well to keep God’s mission front and center in our minds and hearts. This glorifies God and blesses our neighbor. It shows God’s work of redemption in our lives. And gives us great joy as well.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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