“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10
A few weeks ago, Pastor Smith slammed yet another sermon message out of the ball park. What I mean by that is when you leave the service at your church on Sunday morning, the Holy Spirit has you eager to share something wonderful from the sermon with another soul along your journey; that was a home run that will place a soul you are going to meet, another rung up on the ladder to Heaven. And after all, that is why we are here; to seek and save the lost.
Whether you know it or not, to this world you might be just one person, but to one person you might be the world and bring them closer to Jesus with a word, a nod or a smile. You are the fifth Gospel. You’ve heard, read and may have memorized some of the wisdom from the four Holy Gospels. You’ve been prepared or are in the process of being prepared to take the Good News to someone along your journey. What a privilege! If you don’t feel like you are being prepared, spend more time in prayer on Sunday morning before the service, asking the Holy Spirit to open your mind as you listen to the scriptures and message. During the week, open the Bible and read through the Holy Gospels. What a privilege it is to have access to God’s Word in your hands and at your church.
The girl in the attached photo goes to the Lutheran school at Chincheron which is located high on the mountain above Arcahaie. Her school has a Trinity HOPE feeding program and has been given a box of New Testaments for her school from Gideon’s International. Two donors like you have brought her a home run on this day. Food in her tummy and her very own copy of the New Testament in her own language. She’s being prepared to be the fifth Gospel. What a privilege for her and those two donors as she goes and shares the Good News with family, friends and neighbors. I was trying to think of a song to close with today and perhaps give you another nudge to be the fifth Gospel to another soul today and I came up with the ‘Thank you’ song by Ray Bolz.
“I dreamed I went to Heaven, you were there with me. We walked upon the streets of gold, beside the crystal sea. We heard these angels singing, then someone called your name. You turned and saw this young man and he was smiling as he came. He said "Friend you may not know me now" and then he said "But wait; you used to teach my Sunday school when I was only eight and every week you would say a prayer before the class would start and one day when you said that prayer, I asked Jesus into my heart". Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am a life that was changed. Thank you for giving to the Lord; I am so glad you gave. Then another man stood before you. He said, "Remember the time a missionary came to your church. His pictures made you cry. You didn't have much money, but you gave it anyway. Jesus took that gift you gave and that's why I'm here today". Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am a life that was changed. Thank you for giving to the Lord; I am so glad you gave. One by one they came, far as your eyes could see; each life somehow touched by your generosity. Little things that you had done, sacrifices you made; they were unnoticed on this earth; in Heaven now proclaimed. And I know up in Heaven, you're not supposed to cry. But I am almost sure there were tears in your eyes. As Jesus took your hand and you stood before the Lord. He said "My child look around you; great is your reward." Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am a life that was changed. Thank you for giving to the Lord; I am so glad you gave.”
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay