Category: evangelism

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Hospitality

Matt 25 Jesus has been preparing his disciples to take over the “job” of ministry when the time comes for Him to return home to heaven. Matthew, as a Jew, records the words of Jesus about whom they are to reach. He tells them a story that should challenge all of us just as the story of the Good Samaritan should.

Verses 31 to 40 tell us the things God will show us in eternity about how we shared out of our abundance to the least of those. His illustration reveals that the King will begin the separation of those who were faithful and those who had the means but were not. He reveals that when we feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty and cover the needy with places of rest and clothing, we are doing what He would have done while He was here.

Jesus goes on to explain that even though we have not recognized ourselves as having done these things, God has seen our heart and our motives. He ends this parable by saying: “I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.” [Matt 25:40]

As we live and move in our world God brings the needy to our door but what we will do with those may be in need. God in heaven as the mighty righteous king has seen and recorded each step.

Last Sunday our pastor challenged us to step out of our comfort zone and be hospitable. Am I doing this just as Jesus shared?  

Photo Credit: Vineyard Church https://vcc.church/media/9tbwwdy/being-hospitable

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The Gospel is for All!

Luke 17 What Samaritan do you see?

Because of a long and convoluted history, Israel hated the Samaritans but not Jesus! Are we like the Israelites or like Jesus? What prejudice today keeps us from sharing the gospel message of hope and reconciliation?

Jesus met a Samaritan woman at the well. She heard the message, left her water jar, and went and told and many came to believe in Jesus. Later, Jesus told the story of one who had been robbed and injured. Two Israelites came, saw, but left him destitute on the road. Then, a Samaritan happened by that way; he stopped and nursed the man. In this chapter, Jesus meets ten lepers. They cried out for Jesus to heal them, and He did. He also told them to go and show themselves to the priests. All went, but one, seeing his healing, returned to Jesus to thank him. Jesus said were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? And was it only this foreigner…this Samaritan…who has come to thank God for his cleansing?

In three encounters, three people heard or met the Master, who met their needs. Not one of them was an Israelite! Jesus wants us to see that no prejudice kept him from telling the gospel story to those in need.
What is keeping us from doing His work? Is it prejudice because of race or homelessness? Is it because we don’t see the need because of x,y, z reasons?

Photo Credit: Klang Church of Christ

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True Friends are Hard to Find

Mark 2 Jesus has been about His Father’s business as he walked about Galilee. One thing is certain, Jesus made friends easily and not only listened but then acted if there was a need. How often do we listen but not meet the needs of others?

A sign of a true friend is one who goes beyond the normal to the extraordinary, as we see in the story of the paralytic. Here are four young men whose love for a friend would take them to find a way to meet Jesus. They tried the normal entrance, but it was impossible because of the crowd, so they climbed the house to the top and removed the roof! How extraordinary! How clever! They did not let the problem stop them until they found a solution to help their friend. Do we move heaven and earth to help a friend, or do we come and say we tried, but it is impossible? What kind of friends are we to the ones in need?

Jesus saw not just a need for physical healing but a need for spiritual healing, and so he pronounces: “Your sins are forgiven!” Yet, the naysayers who had a front-row seat scoffed and said he was blaspheming. It is no different today. We meet the naysayers who scoff. Do we press on or let their words deter us from bringing others to the Healer? 

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What or Whom do you love?

Malachi 1-4 Malachi, Malachi, what are you telling me? You are telling me the same thing Jeremiah has told me in chapter 3 of his book. People are sinful and unrepentant. They are told that simple statement and reject it. Both authors use the Socratic method of God asking a question and the people responding. God presents His case, and the petulant Israelites ask how or, why, or when. God asks why do you refute the evidence I am presenting to you? The people say You can’t really be angry with me because I go to the temple and get my ticket punched for being on time, bringing my sacrifice as prescribed by Moses, and I tithe. And audaciously, God says He loves me; how can that be? And so, for four simple chapters and many more chapters in Jeremiah, the message is clear: God loves His unrepentant children. He will move heaven and earth to help them see this truth, yet as the Apostle John said, men love darkness rather than light. They love their sin.

Century after century has passed, exile has come and gone. The temple has been rebuilt, but men’s hearts have not changed. The utter futility of sin is before them, and yet they refuse to change. It is into that scene that God does one more thing: He sends His messenger to clear the way for Christ to come.

Will we accept him? Will we listen to him? Will we resoundingly repent and be restored? Today is the day of salvation. Will you accept God? 

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Sharing the Gospel–without words

2 Kings 16-17, 2 Chron 28  We live in a neighborhood of immigrants who do not speak English. This is not a new phenomenon! 

Back in the OT times, God allowed a wicked Assyrian king to carry away the nation of Israel to his foreign land. In their place, he sent other people he had conquered who didn’t speak the language, and they brought their foreign gods and worshiped them. They did not know the custom of the God of Israel, who will not share His glory with another. [Is 42:8] God sent lions to kill them to get their attention! Today immigrants are bringing their foreign gods into our land, and they do not know the Jehovah God. He doesn’t send lions to get their attention—He sends you and I as missionaries!

The King of Assyria may have been evil, but God can and will reveal His plan to unbelievers. He revealed the problem to the king and sent a “missionary” prophet of the conquered Israelites back to tell the people about Jehovah. Just like today! You and I are “missionary” workers to bring the gospel message to the immigrants around us. Do you see yourself as a missionary to the lost around you?

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Doomsayers Depart!

Amos 6-9 Do you say, but I am only x, y, z? Do you not think that if God can use a sheepherder, He can use you? Or do you listen to the doomsayers who say, leave us; take your message to other people? Amos faced such backlash in Israel, which was not his home country. King Jeroboam’s priest of Bethel, Amaziah, told the king that Amos, a foreigner, was conspiring against him. Amos heard Amaziah say: “no longer prophesy at Bethel, for it is the sanctuary of the king and a royal residence.” [Amos 7:13]

Life then and life today are very much the same. We are living and moving in a growing culture of intolerance, no-platforming, safe spaces, just like Amos. Many do not want to hear the good news of the gospel. Will we be strong like Amos and reply that God has called us to tell you His good news that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life? [Jn 14:6] Choose ye today whom you will serve. [Jos 24:15]

Or is His word like a burning fire shut up in our weary bones that must be released like Jeremiah said? Is God’s Word like an unquenchable fire in your bosom?   

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Lessons from a Sheepherder

Amos 1 to 5 You may be like some who relate more to Amos, the humble Sheepherder from Tekoa, than someone who wears their Ph.D. on their sleeve.  Case in point, some years ago, I encountered a pastor who reminded me that he was to be called Dr. Jones.  Some unbelievers react that way when we wear our salvation on our sleeve rather than in word and deed.

God had a message for Israel and reveals the profound and hidden things whether we are a sheepherder or a Bible scholar. God used humble Amos to reveal a simple warning message: For three things…no make that four is his repeated refrain to the depraved Israelites who had lost their way.  

Certainly, the Sovereign Lord does nothing without first revealing his plan: He is not willing that any should perish, but all come to repentance. [Amos 3:7; 2Pet 3:9] Perhaps you feel like Amos, and you say to yourself, let someone else tell them. But God has chosen you. Others may call you or see you as foolish, but God has given you His message of His love. [1 Cor 1:27]

God is calling all sheepherders and Bible scholars: Go and tell the good news.

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Will you go?

                                

Jonah 1-4    Jonah is not only a Hebrew but also a Hebrew who worships the Lord, the God of heaven. Yet, Jonah is a picture of the selfish racial condemnation of others. God said in Isaiah, who will go for us and Isaiah said, “send me.” Yet, Jonah hearing that same call turns a blind eye and says, “send another, not me.” Does this sound familiar? Do we have excuses why we do not say “send me?” Look within and see why we take a ship to Tarshish and sleep away the opportunities God has placed before us. We are the Jonahs of today with our plethora of excuses.

Yet as the Psalmist said, “The Lord is merciful and fair; our God is compassionate.” [Ps 116:5] He will not relent when He has a plan to send men/women to the lost fields of Nineveh to bring them hope and the message of salvation. He may send a fish or a neighbor, or another believer to accost us in our tracks and redirect us to the lost. God is the antithesis of Jonah, and we are to be His messengers of hope as He is the God of hope.

Where is God directing you this day? To whom will you bring the message of God’s love and hope?

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Reconciliation or Steadfast unforgiveness?

Obadiah 1, Ps 82-83 “An Unforgiving Heart” Edom is the land of Esau, the twin of Jacob. Jacob stole Esau’s birthright as well as his father’s blessing. Esau fostered this hatred throughout his nation, and they carried a bitter grudge for centuries. Outwardly, Esau acted like he forgave Jacob when he returned home, but years later assisted the Babylonians as Judah was fleeing. They were traitors to the core, all because of an unforgiving spirit.  So Obadiah writes that they will be made small, be slaughtered, face shame, be swallowed up, and be extinguished from the earth. What strong words!  

Obadiah reminds Edom that they “should not” have done what they chose to do and provides a lesson for us about cultural and racial hatred. Instead, we are to pray for those who curse and mistreat us, hoping they will turn and be saved. [Luke 6:28]  The reason is to hope “that they may seek you, O Lord…and know that you alone are the Lord, the Most High over all the earth.” [Psalm 83:16-18]

Where are we praying for cultural and racial reconciliation? Are we a part of it or a hindrance?  

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The Good News!

Share the good news

Romans 9-11 The Heart of Paul

As the minister sent to preach the gospel, Paul’s heart is torn because his own people have rejected the Messiah of whom he preached. They saw the evidence of His miracles, listened as He taught, preached, and healed, but they instead cried, Crucify Him! Put his blood on our children and on us. [Matt 27:25]  No wonder Paul’s heart is so heavy! But, here’s the sixty-four dollar question we should be asking ourselves, would we be willing to say, as Paul, I would forgo my time with God in eternity if they would turn and be saved? Are we asking them if we would see them in heaven?

As Paul noted, a partial hardening has happened, and it isn’t just to Israel but to our family members now. Hearts are hard, and souls are leaving earth to spend a Christ-less eternity in the depths of hell. That should grieve us and cause us to consider that question as Paul did. Do we say as Paul: “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart…” [Rom 9:2] Remember this: “the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.” [Rom 9:33]

Who needs to hear the gospel message even one more time? Will you be ready to tell the good news for “God is not willing that any should perish but all come to repentance.”[2Pet 3:9]

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