Who Have You Led To Christ?
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Mark 16:15
One day a pastor told the manager of a big department store, ‘I’ve talked about carpets and bedding and appliances with you many times, but I’ve never talked about my business. Will you give me a few minutes?’ After being led to a private office, the pastor took out his New Testament and urged the manager to become a Christian. Finally, tears began to roll down the man’s cheeks and he said, ‘I’m seventy years old. I was born in this city, and more than a hundred ministers and five hundred officers of various churches have known me in a business capacity. But you’re the only man who has ever talked to me about my soul.’ That day he knelt down and gave his life to Christ. We’ve got the cart before the horse! We keep thinking if we can just bring visitors to church they’ll get saved. And thank God that happens. But when those in the New Testament church met together to celebrate, usually they’d already been won to Christ by someone before they got there! Christ’s last act was winning a soul. His last command was for us to win souls. And His last prayer on the cross was for the forgiveness of a soul. You don’t have to be theologically articulate; you just have to be in love with Jesus. When you’re in love, it shows on your face and expresses itself in your words. Jesus said, ‘I, if I be lifted up…will draw all men unto me’ (John 12:32). Don’t worry about drawing people to Christ; just introduce Him and He will do the drawing.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me share You with others – not just in my actions but in my words and by an invitation for someone to come to know You – and then let Your Holy Spirit work! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
I generally am in agreement with all that is said in today’s devotional, but I strongly disagree with one concept… That we are responsible for “winning” souls for Christ. We are to be faithful and present our faith to others wherever and whenever possible. But if “winning” those souls is our responsibility, we are putting ourselves ahead of Christ. It is the Father who draws souls to Christ and it is the Holy Spirit that empowers us to carry His message of love and forgiveness. If someone comes to faith because we draw them, their faith is in us and not in God. This does not relieve us from the responsibility to be Christ bearers to others but it is not a game to be won or lost. It is a mission to be lived.