OCTOBER 18 - 24: BEAUTIFUL FEET
Pastor Matt will be in Colorado on 10/24/15, attending a conference. His absence means that we do not have sermon Scripture(s) to post here on the blog. We can, however, spend the week discussing a few Bible passages which relate to Pastor Matt's resent series about sharing the Gospel.
Matthew 9:35-38
Romans 10:14-15
Ephesians 3:7-13
Twila Paris wrote "How Beautiful," a song which reflects on the beauty of feet that carry the good news to those bruised and broken by the world. The first and last verses are as follows:
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful the hands that served
The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth
How beautiful the feet that walked
The long dusty roads and the hill to the cross
How beautiful the feet that bring
The sound of good news and the love of the King
How beautiful the hands that serve
The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth
The song reminds us that our "beautiful" feet become that way by walking in the footsteps of Christ. As we follow His lead, as we seek to become more like Him, our feet become beautiful as they take us where ever the Lord leads in order to share the gospel and God's love with others.
To me, each of these passages are an encouragement to share the Gospel.
ReplyDelete"[T]hey were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36) reminds me of the state I was in before I gave my heart to Christ. Comparing that to the joy and freedom I now have, how can I resist offering that same joy and freedom to others?!
When I read, "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" (Romans 10:14-15), I see what a blessing He has bestowed upon us to make us witnesses to His Kingdom.
Finally, Paul's proclamation, "I became a servant of this Gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power" (Ephesians 3:7) removes the weight of (falsely) believing I need to rely on my own strength for this crucial work.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:14)
ReplyDeleteHow, indeed. One of the most amazing things God has ever done is to grant to us the responsibility of spreading the good news of His Son, Jesus Christ, to the world. I know I am sometimes tempted to think, "Let someone else do it." But perhaps it is better to think, "If not me, then who?" You might be the only one who was bold enough to speak into the lives of those around you, and the difference between speaking up and saying nothing may have eternal consequences.
"I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things." (Ephesians 3:7-9)
ReplyDeleteHere we find at least three things that should encourage us to be bold in sharing the gospel: the power we have been given to do so, an abundance of grace, the boundless riches of the gospel. We do not share the gospel by our own power or authority, but by that which was given to us through Christ. We have been shown grace by God and are able with His help to be gracious to others; to share that grace and the good news through which we have been shown it. We are also sharing a message which contains boundless riches. It is not a message which is "bad news" (except perhaps the part about all of us falling short of God's glory). It is GOOD news, in that Jesus, the Son of God, died so that we might no longer fall short of God's glory and was raised to new life so that we too might live. What else do you find in this passage which might encourage or equip you to share the gospel?
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37-38)
ReplyDeleteOne of the "rules" for organizations is that 20% of the people do 80% of the work. That seems to fit pretty well with Jesus' statement that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. We are the few, and there is much work to be done. Having been chosen by Jesus for the task at hand, we are called to put our shoulder to the work. We are also called to ask the Lord for more workers. No doubt it wouldn't hurt to encourage one another in the work as well. Sharing our faith is difficult for many of us, and the more support we have when doing so the better. How can you not only share your story, but encourage others to share their story, too?