I never tire hearing the gospel message. I look forward to Communion services in a very special way, because of how the Lord has used them so many times to get my heart refocused on the eternal and off the temporal.
As we read today about Paul’s heart in reaching the lost (2 Corinthians 5:14), we need to remember that Paul’s heart is a reflection of the Father’s heart towards mankind. Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw the multitude in their desperate and lost condition (Matthew 9:36-38).
It was Jesus who told His disciples to look on the harvest field of souls (John 4:35). It is our precious Lord Jesus who instructs us to pray that the Father would send laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:2). The words of Jesus in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) reflect the heart of true evangelism.
Today we hear the plea of God through the Apostle Paul to fallen man: “…be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20) Now that the work of atonement has been done (Romans 5:11), man is called upon to “Repent and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
Jesus Christ IS the gospel, beloved! The call of God to man is to turn to Christ alone for salvation (Acts 4:12). This is a call for repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). Because our God dwells in the eternal (Psalm 90:2), His call to salvation is always in the present tense. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)
May our hearts burn afresh with thanks and worship of our glorious God (Exodus 15:11) for His glorious reconciliation (Colossians 1:20).
