ICS Daily Devotions
Christ’s Passion for the Lost
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Have you ever been at the death bed of someone who is really close to you? What would they say to their loved ones if they knew that they were a few breaths away from passing on into glory? Probably, they gave instructions to their loved ones about things that were closest to their heart, that they desired to see done after their death. People about to leave earth don’t waste breath on things that aren’t important to them.
Jesus said quite a few things between his resurrection and his ascension into heaven. These are important words, among his last, a commissioning and a display of the passion of Christ. His last command should be the church’s first concern. And what is his command? Jesus’ desire is for us to urgently preach the gospel to the lost and make disciples for Him. We must be a carrier of revival by preaching the gospel and helping to deliver those who are oppressed by evil.
A few years ago, there was a story in the paper about a car that lost control and plunged into a reservoir. There were many joggers who witnessed the accident and who gathered at the scene to watch, but nobody plunged into the reservoir to save the driver or passengers, despite the pleas for help. The joggers were obviously concerned about their own comfort and safety. Eventually, someone plucked up enough courage to enter the water and got the first person out of the vehicle, but he was too late save the second. Both people could have been saved had the joggers just responded sooner.
Those onlookers are like Christians who witness the sufferings of unbelievers but are not willing to get out of their comfort zone to share the gospel with them. The lost are crying out for help! We need to respond to their plea!
Verse 19 says “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
This is Christ’s instruction: GO! So let us not be passive but active in going to people who are lost and need someone to love them. It is tempting to be satisfied with doing “maintenance church”. Doing maintenance church means as long as your life is alright, your cell group attendance is stable, and you have time to attend Bible study, you are unconcerned if the church is not growing or and the whole world is lost without Christ.
But we have emphasized growing in godliness to be more like Christ in our character. So we must not neglect to be like Christ in our passions. And Christ’s passion is for the lost. It is impossible to truly spend time with the Heavenly Father without catching his passion and urgency. You are the agent of love. You are God’s answered prayer. Christ is mobilizing the church to go and reach the lost!
Luke 10:2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
We are able to sense and understand the heart of God for the lost throughout the ministry life of Jesus. There are many people who have never heard the name of Jesus or about God’s salvation plan. Jesus has a deep love and compassion for all these people, and He wants us to be His mouthpiece: to share the gospel with them and win them over for Christ. We know this because it was his last instruction to us. That should be motivation enough to obey!
Sermon Series: The Heart and Passion of Christ
