GO !
In light of the circumstances of the last few
months, it is more important now than ever to reach out to a hurting and lost
world. Many are seeking answers and we know the only real answer is Jesus
Christ. Here is what Jesus would have us do. Following His encouragement to all
to come (Mat 11:28) “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I
will give you rest” Following the come of salvation Jesus would have the go of
service. It is important to realize we are saved for a purpose. God wants all of
us to show our faith is real by putting it into action. Here are just a few
verses that speak of this action: Jesus says
GO THE EXTRA MILE (Mat 5:41)
“And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”
The law required that a man go with another
when asked, one mile. That was the legal requirement. Jesus met that teaching
with another that was more in keeping with concern for others than legality. Go
the extra mile is our encouragement to do what is beyond the requirement. It
speaks of every aspect of our relationships with others. Jesus says, do unto
others and let God be the One who ultimately judges. Paul put it this way, “Love
suffers long and is kind” (1 Cor 13:4) Is there someway you might be able to
go the extra mile for someone today? May God place on our heart the desire to do
so. Then…
GO PROCLAIM (Mark 16:15)
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature.”
The word preach means to herald or proclaim.
Here the message is the good news. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christian you have a message the world desperately needs to hear. Tell how Jesus
has changed your life and how He can change theirs when they put their faith in
His salvation work. God placed us here to tell the good news. His desire is that
all men would be saved (2 Pet 3:9). We know, that not all will come to Jesus but
we do know the heart of God. It is that which should spur us on in our
testimony. Presenting the gospel is sharing Jesus Christ with others. Tell how
He has impacted your life and encourage them to trust in His finished work of
salvation. “God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were sinners,
Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8) Jesus would also have us..
GO TEACH (Mat 28:19)
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
Teach comes from a Greek word meaning to
disciple or instruct. Following salvation there is the need for training
believers in the way they can live lives pleasing to God. Getting people saved
is the beginning not the end of Christian ministry. Jesus needs men and women
who know how to put their faith into action. We are to live lives that are
examples of our Lord Jesus and we should encourage other believers to live lives
obedient to the Lord as well. Paul said to young Timothy, “Let no man despise
thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in
charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Tim 4:12). Then finally consider
these words of our Lord..
GO AND SHOW MERCY (Luke 10:37)
“And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and
do thou likewise.”
This statement follows the parable of the Good
Samaritan. The good Samaritan was the one who met the needs of a poor stranger
attacked by thieves, who stole all his goods, and left him for dead. While the
priest and the Levite walked by the Samaritan stopped to help. Yet, not only did
he help, he went the extra mile for this stranger by providing for him until he
was back to health. Do you know someone who is going through some difficulty
today? Has God placed a certain one on your heart who is in need of help? Can
you offer some form of mercy? Then follow Jesus encouragement, “Go and do..”
Doug Nichols while serving with Operation
Mobilization in India in 1967, was forced by tuberculosis into a sanitarium. He
did not yet speak the language, but tried to give Christian literature written
in their language to the patients, doctors, and nurses. Everyone politely
refused. One morning, he noticed one of the older and sicker patients across the
aisle trying to get out of bed, sit up on the edge, and stand, but in weakness
fall back into bed. The next morning he realized the man had been trying to get
up and walk to the bathroom! The stench in the ward was awful. Other patients
yelled insults at the man. The next night Doug again woke up and noticed the man
across the aisle sit up, try to stand, and like the night before, fall back into
the bed. He went over, put his arms around the man and carried him to the
bathroom and later back to his bed. The man thanked him and went to sleep. The
next morning a patient motioned with his hands that he wanted a tract. Other
patients approached and indicated they also wanted booklets. Even the nurses and
doctors asked. Weeks later an evangelist who spoke the language visited, and
discovered that several had put their trust in Christ as Savior as a result of
reading the literature. What did it take to reach these people with the gospel?
It wasn't health, the ability to speak their language, or a persuasive talk. It
simply took someone willing to help. God bless.
