Is the Gospel Hidden?

-


Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NLT)

3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Devotion:

            Why does it seem that we have such a challenging time convincing people of the truth of the gospel message that we communicate? The Apostle Paul supplies us with a clear answer in today’s passage. Satan the enemy of God and God’s people is behind the fog which surrounds some people when it comes to hearing the good news of Jesus Christ. Our message is plain and simple; however, the devil likes to make it seem complicated and difficult to comprehend. Is there no hope of making any progress against Satan’s schemes?

            The only remedy for this situation is prayer. We must pray constantly that God will remove the brain fog that Satan likes to use against us. We need to be clear on what the Gospel is to make sure that we are not causing any miscommunication on our end. Satan is clear about his intent to blind the eyes and stop the ears of unbelievers to keep anyone from following Jesus in a life of discipleship and service. So, we must be in the scriptures and in prayer to keep our own minds eye open and ears unstopped. Then we can be effective witnesses for Christ in our communities.

            Part of the success that the late Billy Graham had in leading crusades where thousands came forward to make a commitment to Jesus was prayer. There were thousands of people praying for Jesus to work through Billy in every city he visited. The evangelist was always covered in and by prayer during his rallies.

            How much more then should we be covered in prayer when we try to spread the good news in our world that is so filled with bad news that it is hard for God to be heard above the noise. We know that eventually all will come to see Jesus as he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords until that day we must be witnessing for God. The devil is convinced that his time is short, so he is pulling out all the stops in his campaign to deceive the world. God’s people must have a sense of urgency about them. We must proclaim the Good News that Jesus comes to save sinners such as you and me at every opportunity. Let us pray for urgency and boldness in our witness to the world.

Prayer:

            Lord, we lift your name on high. You have done marvelous things for your people. Encourage our hearts now to tell of your wonderful deeds to the people of this world. The world is becoming a dark place, Lord Christ, may we be beacons of light and hope in this cold, dark world. Help us to be faithful to your calling for harvesters, for surely the harvest is ready, all that is missing is us. Send us Lord Jesus. Amen

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapt...
Read more

The Hatred of the World

-
Scripture: John 15:18-20 (ESV) 18  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. Devotion:             This scripture is compelling. It explains what happened to Jesus and His disciples some 2,000 years ago. The message of God is rarely welcome news for the world. It calls out many of the culture's favorite practices for what they are: sin. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, humankind has been adamant about trying to hide or excuse their sin. Sin causes a barrier between humans and God that humanity cannot overcom...
Read more

Reflecting on Reformation Day

-
  On October 31st, millions of Christians around the world celebrate Reformation Day, a commemoration of a pivotal moment in church history. It marks the day in 1517 when Martin Luther, a German monk and scholar, nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This act, challenging the practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church, ignited what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. The Courage to Stand for Truth Reformation Day calls us to reflect on the courage it takes to stand for truth. Martin Luther faced immense opposition and risked his life to speak against the corruption and abuses he saw within the church. His conviction was rooted in a deep understanding of scripture and a sincere desire to return to the teachings of Christ. As we remember Luther's bravery, let us examine our own lives. Are we willing to stand firm in our beliefs, even when it is difficult? Do we seek truth in God's word and let it guide our actions? Script...
Read more