Grab our RSS feedExhortation from a Co-Laborer
Over lunch awhile back as I was asking Brandon Sheridan if he would consider leading the charge for Urban Boys Camp, I was stirred during conversation about Grace Church being a people who faithfully proclaim the good news. The following is Brandon's exhortation for me, us!
Brothers and Sisters, my heart is burdened for the furtherance of the gospel. We as a faithful family have, by grace, done well to proclaim the gospel, but let us excel still more.
Let us consider Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.’’
If we explicitly read this text, we clearly see that the gospel is the power of GOD for salvation - herein lies my burden! As Bryan has already exhorted us to proclaim the gospel, not only at scheduled events (i.e. backyard bible club, uptown barbecue, etc.), but also to your neighbors, to your co-workers, , in the streets as we are walking, - simply in the normal context of life.
Our motivation to share the gospel does not need to rely strictly on scheduled events and plans, but rather we should desire to proclaim the gospel in every context of life.
So what is our motivation? What is going to compel us to prayer walk the neighborhood, or talk to the man on the porch in the chair? What is going to compel us to cross barriers and cultures so that the Lamb who was slain would receive the reward of His sufferings?
Love, is the motivating factor (1 John 4:19). So let the love of Christ constrain you (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Where is the love of Christ seen most clearly? - in the gospel.
The love of Christ that is displayed in the gospel is meant to be proclaimed to people, and that is the only way that they can be saved. So, I exhort you to consider again the gospel and I pray that the LORD, will by the power of the Holy Spirit, light a fire of affection for Christ in you. May the constraining love of Christ that you have experienced, in turn motivate you to share it!
I think that a good starting place for us all is repentance. Let us repent of our indifference, our pride, our unbelief, our slothfulness, our fear of man, and let us turn to the Omniscient God, ‘’who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen’’ (Ephesians 3:20-21). We are fallen creatures who have been bought with the precious blood of Christ and now have the privilege of proclaiming this glorious mystery.
One last question: Why this preoccupation with salvation of souls?
The Lord loves to save people because through salvation He receives glory.
So, consider your great privilege: that the God of all creation who is fully sustained in Himself grants us the opportunity to share in His glory by allowing us to be used as instruments in His hand for the salvation of men’s souls.
Thanks for the exhortation Brandon!
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