Sharing God’s Compelling Love
ICS Daily Devotions
2 Corinthians 5:13-15 (NKJV) For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
The Apostle Paul was one of the most passionate preachers of the gospel recorded in the Bible. He would rather be accursed in exchange for the salvation of his people. One possible reason that drove him so passionately is the revelation given to him by God. After reading what he has written in this passage, we also possess the same knowledge.
According to statistics, four people enter a Christless eternity every few seconds. God is compelling us to reach out to the lost with the gospel, and we need to heed His urging in our hearts and the work entrusted to the church.
There are two kinds of death: physical and spiritual. Unless we are born again, we will confront these two deaths. While we have no control regarding when we die physically, we can choose to continue living spiritually despite our physical death. That choice lies in accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. Those without Christ in their lives will face spiritual death, which means being eternally separated from God. However, if we are born again, our names will be recorded in the Book of Life, we will be sealed with the Holy Spirit, and will spend eternity with God, though we will die physically.
James 2:26a (NKJV) For as the body without the spirit is dead,
We are three-part beings, comprising spirit, soul, and body. When God breathed into created beings from the earth, the first Adam came alive. Similarly, a person is dead when the spirit being departs from the body, yet the spirit being will live for eternity. Therefore, one can either spend eternity in God’s presence or be separated from Him forever. We must tell our loved ones the good news so that they make the right decision.
The decision to be part of God’s family can only be made when we are on earth after hearing the gospel. Anyone who rejects God after hearing the gospel or has not heard the gospel awaits the final judgement at the Great White Throne, when those whose names are not in the Book of Life will be thrown into eternal fire. Everyone gets to die once and face judgement thereafter.
Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV) And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement.
How does this truth increase your sense of urgency? Let’s heed the prompting of the Holy Spirit to share God’s compelling love with our friends, colleagues and neighbours for you are the Christian witness that God has placed among them.
Sermon: Sharing God’s compelling love with the I Found Him booklet
