CATALYST FOR SOUL-WINNING: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 24th DECEMBER 2018.

MEMORISE:

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:36

READ:  Jude 1:20-25

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

MESSAGE

Salvation through Christ originated from God as an act of love towards humanity. It was specially designated to be the only way out of human sinfulness, indebtedness and bondage to the devil. 

The foundational role of love in the process of salvation is made clear to us in John 3:16, which says:

“ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

It was divine love that propelled God, as a compassionate Father, to offer His beloved Son, Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation. Out of love for humanity, Jesus accepted His Father’s will and came into this world to relate with sinful men and women, working out our salvation freely and unconditionally. 

Considering all His labor of love and the suffering He endured in His final hours before death, the Bible in 1 John 4:9 rightly concluded:

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

Therefore, the role that love plays as the catalyst for soul-winning has its roots in god Himself, and it is transmitted to those who have partaken of His divine nature through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For obvious reasons, soul-winning requires love. Winning a soul involves fierce competition and confrontation with the kingdom of darkness. It is apparent to anyone involved in soul-winning at any level that Christians are competing with the devil for the souls of men. 

Because eternal life is involved, the stakes could not be any higher. Therefore, soul-winning is of everlasting importance, and it demands determination, commitment and sacrifice. All of these can only flow from a heart overflowing with love for Christ and perishing souls. 

Anyone who confesses Christ as Lord and Savior is compelled by the love of God to spread the love he or she has received to others who are still living in sin (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). 

The golden rule set by Jesus is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39), and He identifies your neighbor to be anyone who has a need within your sphere of influence (Luke 10:29-37). 

Are you then moved by knowledge that anyone without Christ is lost and hell-bound if they remain unsaved? Has this knowledge moved you to share the gospel with your family members, neighbors co-workers, schoolmates and the society at large? 

The Christmas holiday is a good opportunity to do this. I pray that God will fill your heart with love for the perishing souls today, in Jesus Name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please empower me as I share the gospel in this festive season in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Nahum 1-3

John 17: 1-19

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 7: WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE.

1. Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.

o Refrain:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, wonderful story of love.

2. Wonderful story of love;
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal-bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.

3. Wonderful story of love;
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of love.