Do you have compassion for the lost? Most of us would immediately answer with a resounding “Yes!” But think about that question and then think about your actions. Do they line up?
Do you really have compassion for the lost? Are you more concerned with their eternal destiny or your position?
Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. Romans 9:13-16
In Luke 7, we see the parable of the sinful woman. Jesus was invited to dinner at the home of a Pharisee. A woman showed up with an alabaster jar of perfume and began to weep at the feet of Jesus. She wiped His feet with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. This made the Pharisee furious. He wanted to tell Jesus exactly who this woman was and why her past should have disgusted Jesus.
“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet… Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven –as her great love has shown. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:41-48
Does your heart match what you are projecting? We need to project Christ fearlessly! We need to be less concerned with our image and more concerned with lost people. I know you may be embarrassed at the sin your prodigal has given into. Are you praying more that they will come into a right relationship with Jesus Christ or that your embarrassment will stop?
The sinful woman from this parable only cared about sitting at the feet of Jesus. Simon thought he had arrived. He was comfortable sitting back with Jesus when he should have shown Jesus the love the woman was showing Him.
If a truck were heading down the street and you saw a person standing in the middle of the road, wouldn’t you tackle them to rescue them from an accident? A truck is heading towards many who reach out to us, and we are doing our best to push each of them out of the way. We try to warn them about their eternal destiny and to show them what God’s Word says about why He sent His Son to die for our sins. A death we can never repay.
Penn Jillette, from the comedy duo Penn & Teller, recorded a video sharing about the time someone gave him (a professing atheist) a Bible. Please take a few minutes to watch it. https://youtu.be/6md638smQd8
Why would we sit back and not share Christ with people who may be heading to Hell? How much hate is in the heart of a person who refuses to share Jesus with others? Does the other person involved with your spouse know Jesus?
We live in a time where people don’t just have unbelief in Jesus; they are in opposition to God. We can’t give up! We need to be intentional about reaching people for Christ. What does your mission field look like? It may be the man or woman who you blame for the break-up of your marriage. It may be a boss or co-worker. The Gospel is for everyone!
Ask the Lord to give you the boldness to proclaim Christ to the lost and hurting world around you.
God bless,
