This is part 2 of “I Want To Be The One.” The first lesson dealt with being the one to pray biblically. However biblical prayer will require us to put feet on those prayers. Today will deal with how we can do that as a witness of His saving grace, and having compassion on others.
I want to be the one who will be a fervent witness for Christ. This will only happen if I am willfully preparing my heart in private. I must study to know how to live my life separated from the world, yet having to live in the world. It is too easy to allow the world’s philosophy to creep in and taint our thinking. The devil will begin to cause us to rationalize our actions until we are sucked into believing changing to be like them is another way to win them. This is a lie from the devil. You are never to do wrong to gain rightful behavior. The world doesn’t need more like them, they need to see we are different. We are to have a consuming passion to win souls, but we must do it God’s way, or we are serving them a cheap easy “believism” that will lead them to hell. A head knowledge that God exists is not entrance into heaven. It takes a belief and obedience to Jesus Christ. It is His sacrifice for our sins that was enough. It is Him and Him alone that can save us by His grace and our faith in Him as our Lord. I want to be the one to win others. Do you?
John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
As He was leaving to ascend back to the Father in Heaven, He gave us the promise and the command that he would empower us if we would obey. He will be with us to win others to Him. Will you be the one?
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
If I want to be an effective witness, I must first have compassion for those who don’t know Jesus. I also must have compassion for other Christians who are struggling in their walk with God. Some struggle because of their past before they came to Christ. We must try to help them understand that when God forgives, he forgets. That does not mean he has no knowledge, but it means he no longer holds it against us. If God sees them this way so should we, and we need to treat them as such. We need to make strong efforts to show them they are part of the family. If we don’t, they will revert back to those of their past who cared for them, and they will be sucked back into their old lifestyle. When a new baby comes into the family, we all want to hold them, talk to them, and nurture them. A new Christian should be treated the same. They are a babe in Christ. Don’t expect them to act like a mature believer in a short period of time. They will learn most of what and how they should do it from you. For instance, don’t talk about others’ negative qualities to them. If they bring something up they noticed or were treated in a negative fashion, stop, listen to their concern, and pray with them about the situation. You are not only taking the problem to the one who can deal with their hearts, you are teaching them how to deal with future problems when you are not available.
Having compassion also requires us to meet others’ needs by physically helping them. If you are able to help someone who has a need for medical attention, food, or somewhere to stay we are to do it. This may require your money or your knowledge. When someone has needs, many times they just don’t know where to go or how to get the help that is already available. There may be organizations that you support that you can take them to, such as the Salvation Army. They will give them food, shelter, and even assist them in getting a job, but most of all they will give them the gospel.
We need to remember we too were once lost. We are just a sinner saved by grace. Someone had compassion on our souls. They prayed for us, witnessed to us, and helped us to grow. We are to do the same for others. Our hearts should be so full of compassion that we should be like the kid on the front row who raises his hand for every question and every opportunity. I want to be the one to win others, to have compassion so that they will see Jesus in me.
Jude 1:22 “And of some have compassion, making a difference:”
Can you place your name where the “some” is in Jude 1:22? If the answer is no, you have the opportunity to change that today. Will you be the one?
