What's the Point?
In all the shuffle of life's busy-ness, it can be so easy to lose focus on why we reach out to others with the Good News of Jesus. Even as a person who is devoting my life to this cause, there are times when my tear ducts feel a little dry and my passion gets lost in the mundane moments of life.
Even as Christians, we are not naturally compassionate enough or devoted enough in and of ourselves to maintain a steadfast brokeness for the lost. All too often it seems - the reality of eternity evades us.
Only as we draw near to God and catch his heart - can we walk in a consistent passion for others. A few things seem to make the difference for me in reminding me of the depth of eternity and the importance of preaching the Gospel.
Going to Church
"I was envious of the foolish and arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked ... when I considered how to understand this, it was too great an effort for me and too paintful. Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood [for I considered] their end" (Psalm 73:3,16-17, Amplified). Church has a holy effect on us, deeply strengthening our understanding of what really matters in this life.
Spending time in Prayer
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express" (Romans 8:26). John Hyde use to say that all of us share our joys with many acquaintances in our lives. However, we share our sorrows only with our closest friends. He taught, in the same way, as we draw near to God and develop our relationship with him from merely an acquaintance to a close friendship, then God begins to share his deep brokeness for the lost with us.
Reading the Word of God
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105, Amplified). As we spend time in the living Word of God, it become a lamp to our feet (showing us where we are at spiritually and the reality of our current situation) and a light to our path (showing us where God wants to take us, his promises and commands for our spiritual walk and bright future in him). God's Word reveals to us the reality of eternity. God's Word is Truth and lasts forever. Only as we allow God's Word to strip away the lies the world has fed us, instead replacing them with Truth can we begin to see others with God's perspective and be reminded of our great cause and purpose on this earth.
