On my refrigerator, nestled among family snapshots and a list of foods to avoid, I have a clipping that reads, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." I do love it. For me, it answers the question, "Why I am here?" and acts as a 'to do' list every single morning. The quote comes from Matthew chapter 9… "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
Earlier in Matthew (chapter 4) we have this…"And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him."
Have you ever wondered what you might have done had you been around when Jesus walked the earth? I would like to believe my answer would have been "Whatever He told me to do!" If He told me to pray for laborers to preach the gospel to His lost sheep, I would have straightway dropped everything to do so! Why then, should it be any different two thousand years later? Is everyone saved? I think not. If you are, then I would give my life savings on the fact that I know exactly what Jesus would tell you to do if you asked Him today…preach His gospel. This very day we can be the laborers Jesus told His twelve disciples to pray for!
If you are a believer in Christ, you have been given the authority to preach the Gospel to everyone, everywhere. The Holy Spirit has given us each our own special gift to do so. This is what the Apostle Paul was talking about when he explained that we are all different parts of the body of Christ, each of us as important as the other, each depending on the other. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. -Romans chapter 12
What is your gift? Twenty-five years ago I was studying in one of the nations most prestigious art colleges. Regularly I prayed, "God, why did you give me this talent, yet not the desire to use it?" I was good at what I did, but I could hardly bear sitting down to do it. Now that I am using it for His ultimate purpose, the hours fly by. I couldn't imagine a more well-suited gift, and am ever grateful that He has given it to me.
What if we fail to get the lost to believe? Failure is not ours to worry about, just as success is not ours to boast about. The actual act of saving was done by Jesus on the cross. We are simply planting seeds; only God can help them to grow. Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 10: "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand….And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet….Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
The National Association of Pastoral Musicians conducted a national online survey called “Songs That Make a Difference.” Coming in at number two was Dan Schutte's "Here I am Lord". It has my vote. For many years this was one of those songs I simply could not sing. A funny thing happens to your throat when God tugs at your heart. The lyrics are based on Isaiah 6:8... "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."
"And he said unto them,
Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature.
-Mark 16:15
Not sure how to start witnessing?
This book from Mark Cahill can help!
Please remember, BIBLE BAIT is written by a novice Bible study student, not a Bible scholar. If something doesn't look quite right to you, dig into God's word. The one thing I promise you is that you won't get bored! Many thanks to my friend Renee Driscoll, who helps me keep Bible Bait Biblically correct.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment