"God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him"- John 3:17-18 (MSG)
A drunkard boasted that if he took his friends home with him at midnight and asked his wife to get up and cook supper for them, she would do it without complaint. His friends considered it a vain boast and dared him to try it. One day, they followed him home, and he made the unreasonable demands of his wife. She obeyed, dressed and prepared a very nice supper and served it as cheerfully as if she had been expecting them.
After supper one of the men asked her how she could be so kind when they had been so unreasonable and when she did not approve of their conduct. Her reply was: “Sir, when my husband and I were married, we were both sinners. It has pleased God to call me out of that dangerous condition. My husband continues in it. I tremble for his future state. Were he to die as he is, he would be miserable forever. I think it my duty to render his present existence as comfortable as possible.” Not long after, her husband was saved.
The disposition of the woman in the above story clearly reinforces the terrible state of sinners and how God can use Christians to rescue them from eternal condemnation (John 3:18). Knowing that the future of sinners is very bleak, Christians must strive to positively influence them to escape from the wrath of God (1 Corinthians 5:11). As Christians, we can preach great sermons to the sinners without opening the Bible. The worst of sinner can yield to God if we dare to prayerfully show him/her love and care even without uttering a word.
Friends, how many sinners have you influenced for Christ with your actions this year? Are you always willing to accommodate sinners excesses in order to win them over for Christ? If Christ was always eager to receive sinners and tax collectors why are you maltreating and avoiding sinners like a plague (Mark 2:16-17). How I wish you will do something this Christmas season to show sinners how rich and full the love of Christ is in your heart.
"When some teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with such bad people, they asked his followers, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “It is the sick people who need a doctor, not those who are healthy. I did not come to invite good people. I came to invite sinners.”- Mark 2:16-17 (ERV)
One special hymn that reaffirms the God's disposition to sinners as stated in Mark 2:17 is titled "Sinners Jesus Will Receive". Please make the lyrics of this wonderful hymn your watchword and keep telling sinners how much God loves them.
SINNERS JESUS WILL RECEIVE By Erdmann Neumeister (1671-1756)
Sinners Jesus will receive;
Sound this word of grace to all
Who the heavenly pathway leave,
All who linger, all who fall.
Refrain:
Sing it o’er and o’er again;
Christ receiveth sinful men;
Make the message clear and plain:
Christ receiveth sinful men.
Come, and He will give you rest;
Trust Him for His word is plain;
He will take the sinfulest;
Christ receiveth sinful men.
Now my heart condemns me not,
Pure before the law I stand;
He who cleansed me from all spot,
Satisfied its last demand.
Christ receiveth sinful men,
Even me with all my sin;
Purged from every spot and stain,
Glory I shall enter in.
My prayer as we celebrate Christmas this year is that we shall receive more grace to positively influence many people to surrender and follow Christ who is the reason for the season in Jesus name.
In this season of giving, please join us at RCCG, Kingdom Life Parish for our Jesus Supermarket and Carol Service tagged "Come, All Things Are Ready". Venue: 109, Shasha Road, Egbeda, Lagos. Date: December 20th, 2020.Time: 8:00am. All COVID-19 protocols will be observed. Please come with your face mask or face shield.
Good day, Merry Christmas and a prosperious new year in advance.
Maranatha!
Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo
For more articles, please visit -
http://okanlawon.webnode.com
http:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com
Twitter: @tammytaiwo
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