I felt much better knowing that instead of trying to win an argument, I had instead planted a Gospel seed. Will it produce a harvest for the Kingdom? Only God knows – that part is out of my hands.
As Christians, this is something we should never forget. We do not deserve to inherit the kingdom of God, either. Nobody does. Christian or not, we still find new ways to break each and every commandment that God gave us. That part of us doesn’t change. We can’t help it – it comes naturally.But, praise God, there is good news!
I was a fool to wander and a-stray Straight is the gate and narrow the way Now I have traded the wrong for the right Praise the Lord I saw the light.
Paul has not just given us a commission to go out - he’s also telling us that wherever we go, in every facet of our little ‘world’ in which we move around in, there will always be people to win. Sinners aren’t faceless zombies that follow you about, calling out ‘I’m a sinner, please come and save me!’. Well, not in the literal sense, anyway. Sometime you can spot them a mile off.
A lighthearted poem I wrote when waiting for an international connection on the way home from a missions trip to India / Bangladesh - and watching (other) people getting upgrades...
So does that mean God has a sliding scale of acceptance, dependent on the amount of faith one has? After all, Abel's sacrifice was more acceptable. Does that mean that Cain's was acceptable, but less acceptable? Well, if I was a prosperity preacher, I would say 'Yes!'. I would say the more faith you have, the more God will accept you, and bless you. So, make your giant faith offering cheques out to Craig Godfrey Ministries...
Don't let me drift too far Keep me where you are Where I will always be renewed
So, how does the unbeliever suppress his knowledge of God? Look in verse 1 – he says “There is no God”. What’s the easiest way to supposedly cheat death and judgement? Ignore it. Keep going along in life, be nice to people, always do good. Make life as comfortable as you can for yourself, and others.
Then, right in front of me he pulled his t-shirt off, revealing a black singlet, and heavily tattooed arms. He then replaced his t-shirt with a black waistcoat. This was no ordinary waistcoat. It was one of the most intimidating ones you could adorn - with the huge circular bulldog insignia of the fearsome Mongrel Mob - probably the most dangerous gang in the country.
So, in order to placate our inability to please both flesh and spirit, we often give in to compromise. We pry the secateurs out of the Head Gardener's hands, and attempt to prune and shape the weeds of our sin, in order to limit its' damage.