This
week’s article examines the letter “T.”
Tenderhearted towards the lost.
Ephesians 4:32 for an excellent answer for the
source of tenderheartedness: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as
in Christ God forgave you.” Because
we have been forgiven, we can be kind, compassionate and forgiving. Consider
Romans 5:8, “While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.” (My version: While we were dirty rotten scoundrels,
AKA enemies of Christ…He loved us and sent His only son so that we could be
free from eternal death!J) Whoa!
That is something to praise about!
Our challenge this week is to grow as
a body of Believers who are thankful for the mercy we receive daily. I know I
can find myself focused on the problems of life….it’s one of the subtle ways I
think Satan side-tracks us. I am
THANKFUL that God gently reminds me of the mercies I receive daily. (Lam. 3:23) Imagine if our praises outweighed our
requests? I am not saying we shouldn’t share
prayer requests, but it is our praise and thanksgiving which ushers us into His
gates. (Ps. 100) DISCLAIMER: This does
not mean that we all have to share a lengthy praise report each Sunday….but
wouldn’t it be cool if our praise time was a part of our greeting one another
as we came in the building, or the last thing on our lips when we left? Perhaps we have to get together over coffee
or lunch to finish the story? Thankfulness
renders our heart tender toward the work of the Holy Spirit, moving us to reach
the lost.
Do you know someone who has not experienced the love and
forgiveness that Jesus offers? Are you in contact with someone who lives with
uncertainty and hopelessness about their eternal destination? If you said, “yes,” perhaps you will dig deeper into your reservoir of
thankfulness to share the mercy you have received, the purpose you have been
given, and the hope you live in. If you said, “no,” this is a great time at the beginning of 2015 to ask God to reveal
at least 1-2 people that God wants you to express His compassion towards. Could
this be a year of “breakout” in evangelism for LifeGate?
Could we agree for the new growth
of 2015 to also include salvations as we diligently pursue sharing the gospel
with the lost? I am so looking forward
to hearing not only how He proved himself faithful to you this Sunday, but also
praying with you for the salvation of those that God has placed in our
spheres. By the way, this Sunday I will
be at the church at 9 a.m. in the classroom next to the nursery, spending some
time in prayer. You are invited.~ Niki
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