For The Sake of Others

I COULD WISH THAT I MYSELF WERE CURSED AND CUT OFF FROM CHRIST FOR THE SAKE OF MY BROTHERS, THOSE OF MY OWN RACE. Romans 9.3.

Everyone is interested in their own things. It is good in many ways. Our world is becoming more and more affluent and people's lifestyle is becoming increasingly lavish. The pity is that at the same time there is no dearth of poverty and no limit to misery. When no one cares what happens to his neighbour or even relatives, it is terrible!

What is material is seen and what is not seen is eternal. Therefore we are led to ignore and neglect the spiritual poverty and misery of millions of people around the world. Sadly, it is worse in the most affluent nations. The church may have programmes but the members, the Christians who ought to be concerned about the souls around them, do not seem to care seriously enough to witness and minister to them as representatives of Christ.

There was a newly converted ordinary Christian, Saul, who had a deep passion for the salvation of souls, especially those of his own people! His concern for the Gentiles made him their apostle with the name, Paul. All his life he was persecuted by his own people, the Jews, for preaching Christ. But he was willing to be cut off from Christ for their sake!

True, Paul had a dramatic conversion and a definite calling from the Lord. But you and I too had conversions that were no less a miracle and indeed life-transforming. We too were called to be followers of Christ and to let him make us 'fishers of men'. Why then, are you lacking in your passion and zeal to see souls saved from eternal damnation?

Many today are first generation converts. Most of your relatives still live as pagan idol-worshippers. There are unsaved relatives even in Christian families. The Bible is emphatic that if they do not acknowledge God the Father and receive Jesus Christ His Son as Saviour, they shall never inherit eternal life. You know God's love that sent His only Son for them and His love that sent Him to the cross to die for their sake.

But your unsaved dear ones need to hear that ‘good news’. They need to be convicted by the Holy Spirit of their sin and the need for a Saviour. I once heard the somber testimony of a young sister at a camp meeting. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she told how she had failed to testify about Jesus to her own Buddhist parents. She had been a Christian for over five years and was very active in her church. God in His providence guided her parents to step into her very church one day. They heard the gospel for the first time and were saved! It doesn’t happen that way often. Let people see your good works - love, concern and care and come to experience God’s love.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, give me a measure of the zeal and passion of the apostle Paul for the lost souls in my family and among my friends. Help me to pray for them constantly and persuade them to know God and Christ by my deeds and words. Amen.