Devotionals

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And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

If anyone is waiting to “get a word from the Lord,” well, there it is!

That verse, and the content of verses following (16 to 18), were Jesus’ last remarks before His ascension after rising from the grave. We can gauge the importance merely by that.

Verse 15 is not a request from the Lord. It is an instruction, yet it is one that is being disobeyed by believers all over the world today. Not by all, thank God. Yet many churches have dumped it into the “for the future” basket.

The ungodly behaviour of those around us is evidence of this failure on our part. People involved in adultery, fornication, homosexuality, de facto relationships, don’t even realize they are ungodly. If they were hearing the gospel often enough and loudly enough they would think twice about disobeying God (as was the case half a century ago). More than that, many would repent, turn their lives around.

Mark 16:15 says we have the task. Jesus was speaking to the disciples. Christians today are disciples. Jesus didn’t say He would spread the gospel, though it seems some Christians would prefer to sit at home and let Him!

Jesus didn’t say go into a holy prayer huddle and pray for the lost. Jesus said go and tell them. He didn’t say “stay”—wait for them to come into the church, as seems to be the interpretation today. He said “go” which means go where they are—in their homes, at the marketplace, on the streets, on trains, buses, wherever they are.

That one instruction from Jesus if carried out would revolutionize our world today. Everyone’s lives would improve beyond measure. Churches would be full, old people would feel safer, crime would diminish, penitentiaries would have to lay off staff, pedophiles would start visiting Christian websites.

Security companies would go out of business, drug dealers would have to get a job, pornography websites would no longer be profitable, marriage would be a commonplace word once more.

Not only that, thousands, indeed millions, now destined for the lake of fire would instead be on the road to heaven as they hear the gospel, respond to it, and are born again. Isn’t that why Jesus said those words?

On a personal level. Even if you can’t muster the courage to preach, surely you can hand out a tract, or put some in letterboxes or phone booths?

[I'm not in "Private Messenger" so I can't read and reply to your emails sent there. You can reach me at saul2_au at yahoo dot com

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