Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 5, 2020
So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. Romans 10:17, NLT
My friend Bill mentioned to our book club recently his passion and calling from Christ to eradicate Gospel poverty. As he unpacked these jarring words, Jesus touched my heart with a reminder that all followers of His must make this our utmost burden. It is good if we lift the poor out of their dire condition, but it’s imperative we lift souls out of eternal separation from God. If I give a cup of water without the Living Water—Jesus—a lost soul still goes to a thirsty hell. If I feed a stomach without the Bread of Life—Jesus—-a lost soul still spends forever hungry for God. Social justice, void of justification through Jesus Christ, is like putting a band-aid on cancer.
Paul makes it very clear—with validation all through the Scripture—faith comes from hearing the good news about Christ. How Christ died on the cross for our sins (the greater love), how Christ rose from the grave on the third day (the greater promise), and how Christ ascended to heaven after forty days (the greater reward). The spoken words of the Gospel of Christ, laced in the love of the Holy Spirit, penetrate even the most hardened heart of pride with the saving power of God’s grace. Unless Christians speak up, non-Christians remain lost and truly loved.
“Some people even say that I myself [Paul] am preaching that circumcision and Jewish laws are necessary to the plan of salvation. Well, if I preached that, I would be persecuted no more—for that message doesn’t offend anyone. The fact that I am still being persecuted proves that I am still preaching salvation through faith in the cross of Christ alone” (Galatians 5:11, TLB).
Like me, you may have an unfounded hesitation to share the Gospel with words for fear of offending someone. But in reality, the message of the cross of Christ already causes offense. The world calls foolish what God calls wisdom. If Satan can cause his enemies to remain silent with God’s serum for a sin infected soul for fear of hurting a person’s feelings, he wins. However, heaven’s angels cause the devil and his demons to stand down when we stand up and share Jesus.
How can we do our part to globally eradicate Gospel poverty? Pray to the Lord of the harvest and ask Him to send forth laborers into His harvest, and then become an answer to your prayer. Secondly, ask the Holy Spirit to give you boldness to tell your story of being lost without the Lord, how you found Jesus and your walk of faith since trusting Him as your Lord and Savior. Thirdly, invest your time and money at church and in ministries that spread the gospel to those whose souls starve for salvation from Jesus. Pray everyone can hear at least once the name Jesus. Focus on the two billion souls who have not heard, and trust God for more rejoicing in heaven!
“I [Jesus] tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray You will expand my vision of a lost world and break my heart to feed starving souls with the Bread of Life—Jesus, in His name I pray, amen.
Application
What organizations like Haggai International, should I support with my time and money?
Related Reading
John 1:14; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-9
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Heaven’s angels cause the devil and his demons to stand down when we stand up and share Jesus. #WisdomHunters #gospelpoverty #truth #Jesus
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