What kind of love for God do we have if it does not cause us to hunger for and seek the salvation of those for whom Jesus yearns so constantly? Even love for humanity ought to drive us to seek the lost. (Google image, The love of God)
When we know it is salvation or hell, mere respect for fellow human beings should move us to do all in our power to bring people to Christ, for He is their only hope of heaven.
There is no alternative. Whatever is necessary to find them, persuade them, win them—agape love drives us to do it. Whatever steps prepare the way for the salvation of others, the Spirit wants to guide us to take them.
God has ordained that the Holy Spirit work through us. You can hinder the Spirit's working. You can be the missing link in God's plan of redemption. Oh! the tragedy of non-soul-winning churches! What an account their pastors will have to give to Christ at the judgment!
How long has it been since you won new people to Christ? What makes us so unmoved by heaven and hell? Do we believe what we preach?
George Whitefield said,
"I am persuaded that the generality of preachers talk
of an unknown and unfelt Christ. Many congregations
are dead because dead men are preaching to them."
A notorious British murderer was sentenced to die. On the morning of his execution the prison chaplain walked beside him to the gallows and routinely read some Bible verses.
The prisoner was shocked that the chaplain was so perfunctory unmoved, and uncompassionate in the shadow of the scaffold. He said to the preacher,
"Sir, if I believed what you and the church say you believe,
even if England was covered with broken glass from coast
to coast, from shore to shore, I would walk over it—if need
be on my hands and knees—and think it worthwhile, just
to save one soul from an eternal hell like that."
When Nehemiah heard of the plight of Jerusalem he was so overcome by grief of heart that he could not keep standing. He sat down and wept. For some days he mourned and fasted and prayed (Neh. 1:4-11).
He gave up his influential and honored position of cupbearer and confidant of the greatest emperor of his day to pay any price, risk his life, and go and seek the welfare of the Jews. Will Nehemiah one day ask you why you did so little to seek the lost of your city and area?
What will the saints of God in heaven say to you, asking you why you did not do more to seek to save their sons and daughters, their loved ones and friends? What excuse will you and I give to them that we did not seek more continually, even desperately, to keep their loved ones from going to hell?
No, there is no alternative. If we love God the Father we must seek the lost. If we love Christ who died for the unsaved, we must seek to lead them to Jesus. If we have any human love, we must seek the lost and try to keep them from the eternal flames of hell. One day when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ we will wish we had done, oh, so much more to seek to save the lost.
Will you and I weep at the judgment over the lost we failed to win? (See Rev. 7:17). Is that why we are again told at that point that God will wipe our tears away? (See Rev. 21:4).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana. Creative reading style by Jean.
Ablaze for God
#33 You Have no Alternative but to Seek the Lost
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 120-123) ZondervanPublishingHouse
Father, increase our love for the lost, so we will be willing to follow Your leading to seek them, knowing that You yearn for them to find peace through Jesus' sacrifice for them on the cross.
As they have no alternative but to turn to Jesus, it is important that we do everything we can to win them to Him.
~ Tom Elliff- "We should welcome delayed answers to prayer as opportunities to express trust in a sovereign God.We must resist the temptation to take matters into our own hands or to give up. We must submit to God's timing and control if we are to grow stronger in the faith of intercession.
Upcoming posts-
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| (Google image) Faith caring prayer |
Father, increase our love for the lost, so we will be willing to follow Your leading to seek them, knowing that You yearn for them to find peace through Jesus' sacrifice for them on the cross.
As they have no alternative but to turn to Jesus, it is important that we do everything we can to win them to Him.
As Nehemiah was overcome by grief of heart, may we be so concerned for friends and family, that we take it to heart to spend time praying for them to know the Savior.
When the time comes to meet the Lord Jesus face to face, may we have done all that the Holy Spirit inspired us to do to seek and to save the lost.
We can expect to meet the ones we helped to receive His salvation, and to rejoice with them who are living eternally with God the Father because of our efforts to lead them to a life committed to Jesus.
May our determination be strengthened today to win those who we know, to allow the agape love of Jesus to flow through us.
In Jesus' name we ask this. Amen.
Today's Bible verses-
Luke 19:10 (NLT) For the Son of Man came to seek
and save those who are lost."
Col. 3:16 (KJV) "Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
1 Tim. 1:15 (KJV) "This is a faithful saying, and worthy
of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners; of whom I am chief." [The apostle Paul]
Today's quotes-
~ Tom Elliff- "We should welcome delayed answers to prayer as opportunities to express trust in a sovereign God.We must resist the temptation to take matters into our own hands or to give up. We must submit to God's timing and control if we are to grow stronger in the faith of intercession.
Since the answer to our prayers rarely comes according to our schedule, it is important to respond properly during periods of delay. When our prayers seem to be hindered, we must continually acknowledge the sovereignty of God. Behind the delay is God's determination that we will learn how to pray." (p. 126, A Passion for PRAYER).
~ Ron Hutchcraft- "When Jesus, the greatest evangelist of all time, wanted to reach Samaritans, He did not initially "hold a crusade" in their village. Instead, He reached a Samaritan woman and sent her back to be His voice. To her tribe. And the Bible says, "Many of them believed in Him because of the woman's testimony" (John 4:39). It's a mistake to look for some anointed Gospel communicator to break through to the lost people you know. To the extent that their eternity is in human hands, those hands are yours and mine."
(As seen in Ron Hutchcraft's blog post, Billy's Gone - Now What?)
Today's question-
Are you aware that God desires to steward our Finances?
Our ways of producing fruit in our lives can reveal the guidance
we've received, and our obedience to it. What our lives produce through discipleship in choosing godly habits with our finances, possessions and job responsibilities, reveals our submission to God. He is after our hearts to steward everyday decisions, so as to produce good "fruit" in our lives.
1. God is generous; He takes care of His kids. He is the most generous One we know, as He gave us His very own Son to provide a way into His very Presence! He expects us to be generous to others, too. We can actually lay up treasure in heaven by blessing others in their need.
2. Our Integrity is very important to Him. What we allow and make habits of doing, can be detrimental to our spiritual well-being. We are to be honest in all our dealings.
3. We're to be content with what we have. Complaining and finding fault with everyone and everything brings on offenses that hinder our spiritual growth and tend to keep us from accomplishing the plans God has for us. (See Phil. 4:11-13). [From notes taken from a message by Pastor Ben, "Stewarding Our Finances"].
Are you aware that God desires to steward our Finances?
Our ways of producing fruit in our lives can reveal the guidance
we've received, and our obedience to it. What our lives produce through discipleship in choosing godly habits with our finances, possessions and job responsibilities, reveals our submission to God. He is after our hearts to steward everyday decisions, so as to produce good "fruit" in our lives.
1. God is generous; He takes care of His kids. He is the most generous One we know, as He gave us His very own Son to provide a way into His very Presence! He expects us to be generous to others, too. We can actually lay up treasure in heaven by blessing others in their need.
2. Our Integrity is very important to Him. What we allow and make habits of doing, can be detrimental to our spiritual well-being. We are to be honest in all our dealings.
3. We're to be content with what we have. Complaining and finding fault with everyone and everything brings on offenses that hinder our spiritual growth and tend to keep us from accomplishing the plans God has for us. (See Phil. 4:11-13). [From notes taken from a message by Pastor Ben, "Stewarding Our Finances"].
Upcoming posts-
#34 How to Seek the Lost Lovingly and Effectively
8th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
20 More Benefits of Praying in Tongues
10th- Saturday's post by Jean Oathout
#35 Love for Souls is a Sacrificial Love
13th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#36 Your Love for the Church
15th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(Jean's published book)
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