Scripture: "He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:15-16
It's called The Great Commission. As Christians, we are expected to share Christ with others in the hopes they will accept Him into their lives, and share in eternal life.
I'm not an evangelist. Far from it. You won't find me in any public place sharing Christ with others who didn't ask first. On the other hand, when directly asked, quizzed or challenged in a friendly debate - I'll absolutely open up and share my faith.
But there is one lost moment that haunts me forever. I missed a chance I will never get back.
Her name was Debbie Beatman. We went to high school together and she was about 2 years younger than me. She started to sort of hang out with me and a friend of mine, and she was so lost and emotionally hurting as so many teens can be; in search of herself. Acting out, partying, looking for happiness that seemed to elude her. My friend shared Christ with her a little. I remember that.I wanted to, but didn't know how to bring it up without sounding all "preachy" and stuff. So I didn't say anything at all.
As time went on, she drifted away from my friend and I. Then, months later, I read in the local newspaper that she had been killed in a single car accident. I don't know why her car ended up leaving the road, but it crashed into a wall and she was gone.
As I read the account, I immediately thought about how I didn't try harder to share Christ with her. How I wanted to - but clammed up. And so I'm left with the inevitable questions: "Would it have made any difference?" "Could God have used me to make a difference in her life?" "Would she have accepted if I hadn't clammed up like that?" "Was she saved and I just don't know it?" I will never know. But I will never get the chance back to share with her or inquire about where her life was going.
I drive by that very spot all the time. I think of her often. And I think about how dangerous it is to NOT share Christ with those around you, because you may never get another chance again, and for all you know, God could be putting that person in your path for His Special Purpose.
You still won't find me preaching to people in public. But when that Still Small Voice impresses upon me to speak - I try harder now, because for all I know, it could be that person's last chance for eternal life with Him.
Prayer request: Pray for each other that we can all be bold to speak out in faith when the Spirit moves us to!
Prayer: Father, we ask You for Your grace and mercy for the times we have failed You. Help each of us to follow Your promptings without hesitation. Use us for Your glory, and help us to draw others lovingly into Your kingdom. Amen
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Peace be with you!
Scriptures: “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’” (John 20:19-21)
On the night of the first Easter Sunday, our Lord for the first time appeared to His disciples as a group and the first thing He said to them was, “Peace be with God!” This is a passage I am sure we all have read many times. But this is the first time that I didn’t think it was just a greeting.
Consider the context of events that took place in that weekend, in between His passion, suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection, so many things took place in just a short 3 day period. I really don’t blame the disciples for being fearful and confused. It was exactly this context that I found this greeting of our Lord Jesus more than interesting!
First of all, this greeting was given in the midst of a situation where every disciple was fearful of the Jews. In addition, they were totally confused, too. Imagine, in a short 3 day period, they lost their beloved teacher and fearless leader, the very person on whom they built their life-long dreams. But, wait, they said He’s alive. How could a dead man be alive? This was unheard of! What did all these mean? What had happened to their dreams? What had happened to the nation of Israel they held so dear to their hearts? What were they supposed to do?
To all these, the Lord’s appearance and greeting seemed to be reassuring them once again, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The Lord knew what they were going through and He wanted to personally assure them that, in spite of all the threats and persecutions out there and all their fear and bewilderments in their hearts, He was with them and that there’s no reason for fear or confusions for He is always in control. And I think He’s still saying the same thing to each one of us today. Like those disciples, we face our share of troubles in life, some of them more manageable than others. But each of them gives us its share of headaches and troubles in heart. On this Easter, the Lord reassured me that He’s still in control and we are still His to keep, to guide, to protect, and to bless!
More than a reassurance, I think this greeting was also a proclamation to all His disciples that, because of the accomplishment of the work of redemption and justification by Him on the cross, peace with God became available to them. His disciples then were no longer strangers to the house of God, but children of our Heavenly Father. His triumph on the cross delivered them out of the bondage of sin and death and they were made alive to God in a whole new relationship with a brand new life given from above simply because of that.
More than a statement of positional changes for their relationship with God, this offer of peace served as the basis for the Lord to send those disciples out. In verse 21, He once again said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21) Our Lord God commissioned them to join His mission in reconciling people to Himself and to one another. This greeting demanded a response from all disciples of Lord Jesus to follow His footsteps to serve and to bring peace in God to people.
This offer of peace was not just for the disciples then. It was for us today as well. It’s an assurance of His presence and sovereignty over our lives. It’s an offer of a brand new and forever renewing relationship with our Creator and our Father God. It’s a commission that demands our obedience and action to go out and share this good news with each and everyone He brings our way so they may be offered the same peace and the same wonderful relationship we have with Him.
While this offer of peace was given to us, somehow I don’t think our Lord would be satisfied by the fact that we accept it. I think His heart will be pleased as we take this offer and share it with everyone around us. It’s time we celebrate Easter not just for ourselves. More importantly, let’s celebrate each Easter in ways that will please our Lord and give glory to His mighty name!
Prayer Requests:
All God’s children meditate on the implications of Easter for us individually
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for the offer of peace through our Lord Jesus in whom we may also have peace with others. We humbly ask that, as we pursue the realization of this peace offer, we may be sanctified for Your loving purpose to share You and the peace that only You can offer to everyone we meet because we pray in the sweet name of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Amen!
On the night of the first Easter Sunday, our Lord for the first time appeared to His disciples as a group and the first thing He said to them was, “Peace be with God!” This is a passage I am sure we all have read many times. But this is the first time that I didn’t think it was just a greeting.
Consider the context of events that took place in that weekend, in between His passion, suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection, so many things took place in just a short 3 day period. I really don’t blame the disciples for being fearful and confused. It was exactly this context that I found this greeting of our Lord Jesus more than interesting!
First of all, this greeting was given in the midst of a situation where every disciple was fearful of the Jews. In addition, they were totally confused, too. Imagine, in a short 3 day period, they lost their beloved teacher and fearless leader, the very person on whom they built their life-long dreams. But, wait, they said He’s alive. How could a dead man be alive? This was unheard of! What did all these mean? What had happened to their dreams? What had happened to the nation of Israel they held so dear to their hearts? What were they supposed to do?
To all these, the Lord’s appearance and greeting seemed to be reassuring them once again, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The Lord knew what they were going through and He wanted to personally assure them that, in spite of all the threats and persecutions out there and all their fear and bewilderments in their hearts, He was with them and that there’s no reason for fear or confusions for He is always in control. And I think He’s still saying the same thing to each one of us today. Like those disciples, we face our share of troubles in life, some of them more manageable than others. But each of them gives us its share of headaches and troubles in heart. On this Easter, the Lord reassured me that He’s still in control and we are still His to keep, to guide, to protect, and to bless!
More than a reassurance, I think this greeting was also a proclamation to all His disciples that, because of the accomplishment of the work of redemption and justification by Him on the cross, peace with God became available to them. His disciples then were no longer strangers to the house of God, but children of our Heavenly Father. His triumph on the cross delivered them out of the bondage of sin and death and they were made alive to God in a whole new relationship with a brand new life given from above simply because of that.
More than a statement of positional changes for their relationship with God, this offer of peace served as the basis for the Lord to send those disciples out. In verse 21, He once again said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21) Our Lord God commissioned them to join His mission in reconciling people to Himself and to one another. This greeting demanded a response from all disciples of Lord Jesus to follow His footsteps to serve and to bring peace in God to people.
This offer of peace was not just for the disciples then. It was for us today as well. It’s an assurance of His presence and sovereignty over our lives. It’s an offer of a brand new and forever renewing relationship with our Creator and our Father God. It’s a commission that demands our obedience and action to go out and share this good news with each and everyone He brings our way so they may be offered the same peace and the same wonderful relationship we have with Him.
While this offer of peace was given to us, somehow I don’t think our Lord would be satisfied by the fact that we accept it. I think His heart will be pleased as we take this offer and share it with everyone around us. It’s time we celebrate Easter not just for ourselves. More importantly, let’s celebrate each Easter in ways that will please our Lord and give glory to His mighty name!
Prayer Requests:
All God’s children meditate on the implications of Easter for us individually
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for the offer of peace through our Lord Jesus in whom we may also have peace with others. We humbly ask that, as we pursue the realization of this peace offer, we may be sanctified for Your loving purpose to share You and the peace that only You can offer to everyone we meet because we pray in the sweet name of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Amen!
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