Therefore…
IF we are following Him, we will end up where He is on that last day.
Persuading people to follow Christ. Loss of focus…many congregations…internal problems…
Focus on the work of the Kingdom.
Loss of focus… persuading others… Then is it not time to forgive, deal with your problem, and move on? To realign your life and focus on Christ and His kingdom?
Priorities? Believers… Do you binge watch whole seasons of some show spending hours in front of your TV? Do you spend your time attending or watching a sporting event? Do hours go unaccounted for as you review Facebook or play games on your computer or cell?
How is it that you can find the time to do what you want to do, but can’t seem to find the time to be a part of God’s Church? Or even do some bible reading, devotions, or invest time in prayer? Let alone reach out to your neighbor and persuade them to follow Christ.to come to Him for the forgiveness of sin?
What you are doing is great…
But what about your eternal soul and those of your loved ones? How can God be first, how can you love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength when you can’t make time to be with Him and His people?
There is also a tendency to leave the persuading of people to follow Christ to others…
Country club mentality… trying to persuade people to join with them and never mention following Christ.
The problem is that there is no fear of God in the world.
Believers need to make it their aim to please God by doing our best to persuade people of the love of God, that Jesus Died for their sin. We need to minister to the need of God in the lives of people.
Vs 12-13 – Lead many scholars to believe that there were some in Corinth that were slandering Paul… If he was crazy it was for Christ and His Church.
Paul did things that were senseless from a human perspective, but the love of God compelled Him to do things that others would not understand; that they would have seen as crazy…
Vs. 14 The Love of God, which has been poured into our hearts, should also be compelling us, along with the fear of God, to share the gospel and to be out and about persuading others to follow Christ. You cannot hunker down and wait for someone else to do what you are called and commanded to do.
If you know the love of God, that Jesus died for your sin, that you have been given new life in Christ. then why would you live for yourself? Why would you seek entertainment over God? How could you intentionally turn away from following Him to following the ways and wisdom of the world?
Knowing that I will appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that Had I remained a sinner, that I would get exactly what I deserved, still puts the fear of God in me! But knowing God’s love, that He sent His Son to die for me, that the wrath of God against me was satisfied in the blood shed and the life given, fills my heart with gratitude and praise for Him.
For those of us who believe, confess, repent, and turn to God by faith are saved and given new life. The Love of God compels us! The old has gone the new has come, “There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love” (1 John 4:18).
Therefore, we must no longer live for ourselves, “I have been crucified with Christ, & I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Who or what are you living for? Now is the time, today is the day: give your life to Christ!
Discussion Guide:
- Do you fear the Lord?
- What is your priority in life?
- Who do you live for: yourself, or God?
Further Reading: Proverbs 8:13, Proverbs 9:10, Matthew 10:28, Philippians 2:12, Colossians 3:22, Hebrews 10:26-31, Romans 5:1-5, Galatians 2:20, 1 John 4:16-21, Galatians 5:6 (working in response to God’s love).
Dayton First Church of God 