July 13th, 2023
by Gerald Hawk
by Gerald Hawk
Jesus was the ultimate example for each of us as believers in Him of how to pursue the lost and present the gospel. Jesus came into this world to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). He also came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many (all men, but especially those that believe - 1 Timothy 4:10 & Mark 10:45). Instead of condemnation, the goal of His coming was salvation through Him (John 3:17-18).
There was only kindness and compassion coupled with grace and truth from our Lord Jesus (John 1:14). Amazingly, Christ never sacrificed the truth in any regard, yet there was never a coldness in His manner (John 8:31-32). He did not look on people with contempt, nor carry out ministry with a vindictiveness, or turn people away based upon some bias (Matthew 23:37). In fact, at times, Jesus was prone to commend the faith of those outside of Israel (Luke 7:9; Matthew 15:28). When accused of fraternizing with “sinners and publicans”, Jesus reminded the religious leaders of the day that He was “not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:10-13). God’s mercy through Christ Jesus was being extended to all (1 Timothy 2:3-6; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 2:2).
I find in the fact that Jesus seeks the lost two necessary aspects of Christ’s love. First, His love knows no bounds! No matter how very lost an individual may indeed be, Jesus can reach that person, and although at one point they were lost they can be found!! Secondly, His search and rescue effort continues when others would give up on the lost one. He does not despair nor tire of going after the wandering soul. The patience He exudes is truly astounding in its unwavering desire to see a soul redeemed!
Oh, that the Lord would grant us of His Spirit’s gracious response to see the deep need of people with a persevering spirit in reaching out to them with the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
There was only kindness and compassion coupled with grace and truth from our Lord Jesus (John 1:14). Amazingly, Christ never sacrificed the truth in any regard, yet there was never a coldness in His manner (John 8:31-32). He did not look on people with contempt, nor carry out ministry with a vindictiveness, or turn people away based upon some bias (Matthew 23:37). In fact, at times, Jesus was prone to commend the faith of those outside of Israel (Luke 7:9; Matthew 15:28). When accused of fraternizing with “sinners and publicans”, Jesus reminded the religious leaders of the day that He was “not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:10-13). God’s mercy through Christ Jesus was being extended to all (1 Timothy 2:3-6; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 2:2).
I find in the fact that Jesus seeks the lost two necessary aspects of Christ’s love. First, His love knows no bounds! No matter how very lost an individual may indeed be, Jesus can reach that person, and although at one point they were lost they can be found!! Secondly, His search and rescue effort continues when others would give up on the lost one. He does not despair nor tire of going after the wandering soul. The patience He exudes is truly astounding in its unwavering desire to see a soul redeemed!
Oh, that the Lord would grant us of His Spirit’s gracious response to see the deep need of people with a persevering spirit in reaching out to them with the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Recent
Archive
2023
June
2022
October
November
2021
April
May
August
October
Categories
Tags
Angels
Associations
Authority
Bible Reading
Bible
Blessings
Boldness
Burdens
Calling
Cares
Carols
Children
Choices
Christianity
Christmas
Christ
Church Practice
Church
Comfort
Commitment
Committment
Companions
Contentment
Corporate Prayer
Creation
Creator
Cross
Dating
Decisions
Dedication
Deity
Devil
Devotions
Devotion
Doctrine
Eternal Life
Eternal Punishment
Eternal Security
Ethics
Evangelism
Examples
Example
Eyes
Faithfulness
Faith
Fellowship
First Advent
Forgiveness
Friends
Friend
Future
God-man
God's Existence
God's Word
God\'s Word
Godhead
Godliness
God
Good Word
Gospel
Grace
Grief
Growth
Hardship
Heart
Heaven
Hell
Help
Holiness
Home
Hope
Jesus
Joy
Judgment
King
Last things
Local Church
Loss
Love
Man
Marriage
Members
Messiah
Music
Nations
One Another
Parents
Peace
Persecution
Plans
Praise
Prayer Meeting
Prayer
Priesthood
Priorities
Priority
Promises
Prophecy
Purity
Quiet Time
Rapture
Redemption
Rejoice
Relationships
Relief
Resurrection
Reverence
Sacrifices
Sacrifice
Salvation
Sanctification
Santification
Satan
Savior
Scriptures
Scripture
Separation
Service
Singing
Sin
Society
Song
Sovereignty
Speech
Spiritual Growth
Spiritual Warfare
Strength
Study
Suffering
Surrender
Temptation
Thankfulness
Thanksgiving
Thanks
The Faith
Theology
Trends
Trials
Tribulations
Trouble
Trust
Truth
United
Unity
Violence
Waiting
Wife
Will of God
Witness
Woman
Word of God
World
Worship
gentleness
mercy
worldliness
No Comments