A Passion for Evangelism
Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
—Luke 19:10
It is sad that many Christians who are passionate about social justice are not passionate about evangelism, and vice-versa. Worse yet, they can be in opposing camps, mistrusting each other and content to focus on their part of the Christian life, as if a plane could fly with just one wing.
Jesus felt the same compassion for lost sinners that he felt for people who were poor, hungry, blind, and lame. He came for the very purpose of seeking and saving the lost. He didn’t preach good deeds as a religion to gain merit in God’s sight. He clearly said, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent” (John 6:29).
Later the apostle Paul said, “I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). Have you ever felt such a compulsion? Would you feel woeful if you had never explained to the lost how to be found? Would you use such forceful language as “We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God”?
“We were by nature deserving of wrath,” Paul says. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (Ephesians 2:3-5).
Do you feel compelled to share this good news? Do you see how it ties in with helping others? Christ wants to restore us—body and soul.
O God, guide us to balance our passions. Where we are lukewarm, teach us, so that we may help usher in your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — George Young
George Young, a native New Yorker, worked as a taxi driver in New York City before studying to become a pastor. Then he, his wife Ruth, and their children were missionaries for many years in northeastern Japan. They worked with ministers and believers from the Reformed Church in Japan to spread the good news of salvation in Christ and establish new churches. Now George and Ruth are retired and live in the northeastern United States, nearer to their children and grandchildren.
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