Engaging in God’s Heart for the Nations: 30-Day Devotionalნიმუში

Compelled by Christ’s Love – Day 5

Bob Fetherlin, OMS President Emeritus

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (ESV)

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

With all the technology, money, human resources, and strategies available to the church today, why are there more than 3.4 billion people who still have not heard about Jesus?

• We are selfish. Most believers spend 20 times more money annually on personal entertainment than they do on giving to reach others for Christ.

• Our personal comfort holds off-the-charts value. Reaching most of the remaining people and places that have not yet heard about Jesus is dangerous and inconvenient, so we run in the other direction.

• Compromising, we bow our knees to the gods of this world. We accumulate possessions; spend more time on social media than we do in prayer; and make gods of sports, money, and houses. We adore what this world offers, leaving only leftover time and treasures for Christ. If these assertions are factual, where should we find hope?

• In making our lives an eternal investment.

• In experiencing the power that comes when the Holy Spirit wholly owns us.

• In humbly caring more about the needs of others than those of ourselves.

Most importantly, hope is rooted in the agape love of Christ, which compels us. Hope is available in Christ himself!