Preach the Word; be instant in season,
out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort
with all longsuffering and doctrine.
1 Timothy 4:2
The apostle Paul told his young student and spiritual son, Timothy, whom he was instructing on how to be a good pastor, to "preach the Word" of God...
out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort
with all longsuffering and doctrine.
1 Timothy 4:2
The apostle Paul told his young student and spiritual son, Timothy, whom he was instructing on how to be a good pastor, to "preach the Word" of God...
Timothy was to do this whether his audience wanted to hear it or not. In addition, the Lord Jesus Himself commanded His disciples to "go into all the world" to explain the gospel to those who are lost. This was to be the church's main mission. That those who have already received Christ as Savior would tell others of their need to repent from sin and to place their faith in Jesus for salvation. But to a large extent, the church seems to have forgotten her mandate.
I'm stating this now because of a letter I received from a friend who lives in a small southern city. He told me that a "spirit of suicide" appears to be taking hold of his community. He asked me to pray about it, too. Surely an increase in the number of suicides, and an increase in the number of those who are battling depression, is to be expected, I think. With a worsening economy and both the government and media constantly presenting messages of gloom to the public, it should be of no surprise that many are frightened, sad, and even suicidal.
Yet, the Bible lets us know that Jesus is the Light of the world. He is our hope. Furthermore, Christ has promised never to reject anyone who comes to Him. As it says in the Scriptures, "All that the Father gives to Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37 NKJV).
So now is the time, I believe, for the church to refocus upon her primary calling. This being to preach the gospel to those who have yet to call on the name of Jesus Christ, and who have yet to become His disciples.
Likewise, Jesus is a helper to the depressed and suicidal. I know this to be true. For when I was in such a state of mind to where I, too, was thinking of taking my life, Christ reached out to me. He sent another prisoner to tell me that he cared for my soul. And this made all the difference.
D.B.
I'm stating this now because of a letter I received from a friend who lives in a small southern city. He told me that a "spirit of suicide" appears to be taking hold of his community. He asked me to pray about it, too. Surely an increase in the number of suicides, and an increase in the number of those who are battling depression, is to be expected, I think. With a worsening economy and both the government and media constantly presenting messages of gloom to the public, it should be of no surprise that many are frightened, sad, and even suicidal.
Yet, the Bible lets us know that Jesus is the Light of the world. He is our hope. Furthermore, Christ has promised never to reject anyone who comes to Him. As it says in the Scriptures, "All that the Father gives to Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37 NKJV).
So now is the time, I believe, for the church to refocus upon her primary calling. This being to preach the gospel to those who have yet to call on the name of Jesus Christ, and who have yet to become His disciples.
Likewise, Jesus is a helper to the depressed and suicidal. I know this to be true. For when I was in such a state of mind to where I, too, was thinking of taking my life, Christ reached out to me. He sent another prisoner to tell me that he cared for my soul. And this made all the difference.
D.B.
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