As missionaries we should be filled with a burning desire to share the good news of salvation with others. We have responded to God’s call. Our desire is to bring as many as we can to receive Christ as Savior. We expect God will honor and bless our work. And He does honor and bless our work according to His promise.
The verses for today, however, also have a sobering flip side. While the verses indicate that people who welcome and respond to the messenger’s message will receive the Kingdom, they also imply some will not welcome the messenger nor respond to the message.
A high school student was horrified to learn of the staggering number of abortions that take place in the U.S. each day. She decided to participate in a church-sponsored national protest called the “Day of Silence for the Unborn”. Participants went to school that day wearing a white shirt and red tape over their mouths. They did not speak to anyone as a symbol of the absence of a voice for the unborn child in the “choice” to end a pregnancy. Her expectation was that everyone would see and understand. Surely God would bless everything she did that day. Some people did see and understand and offered sympathy for the cause. Many others, however, greeted her with total indifference and some with outright disdain and mockery.
So, did God not honor and bless her work? Of course, He did. Some, in fact, were changed by the message that day. And, only God knows the seeds that were planted that day that He will use to accomplish His purposes in someone who heard and rejected the message initially.
What we must remember is that even Jesus Himself was rejected—by His family, His home town, and even His closest friends (John 15:18-21). God expects His people to be prepared to tell others of the hope that is within them (1 Peter 3:15), to understand the cost of following Him (Luke 9:57-62) and faithfully move forward. He will do the rest and, in the process, great blessing comes to the messenger and those who truly hear the message.
- What are two or three things you see as an injustice that would move you to step out for your faith.
- What risks will you take today to be blessed by God as His messenger?
Father in heaven, I know that You are in control of all things. Sometimes I am reluctant to do Your will because the cost seems too high for me. Lord, help me today to see that it is more costly not to follow Your will for me. Help me to know that when I follow Your plan You will find a way to use me to advance Your Kingdom and pour out Your blessing upon me.
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