Untold still Untold!
Reading: John 1:1-12
"Christ is the propitiation for our sins;
and not for ours only but also for the whole world" (1 Jn 2:2)
Most of God's people are shortsighted. Some confine themselves to evangelise their own cities, districts or States. Still others feel they can care about people elsewhere only after all their own kith and kin are saved. Such Christians can never think of distant places till their lives last.
Meditate on the four Gospels carefully to understand how Jesus was burdened about the untold millions who were still outside the fold. He said, "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring" (Jn 10:16). His concern was always about the "other sheep." He refused to remain in one place. His ministry in Capernaum was a great blessing accompanied by many miracles. Therefore the crowds tried to keep Him back. But He left that place saying, "I must preach the Kingdom of God to the other cities also" (Lk 4:42,43).
While His disciples had gone away to buy food, Jesus was conversing with a woman of Samaria about eternal life. She brought a whole lot of people from her village to hear Him. He told His disciples, "Lift up your eyes and look at the fields; for they are already white for harvest!" (Jn 4:35). The team had a rich harvest during their two day stay over there (vv 39-41). We must learn to look beyond. We should not keep on evangelising the evangelised. There are millions and millions sitting in darkness (Lk 1:79). They are awaiting their first opportunity to hear the gospel.
With Baby Jesus in his arms, Simeon blessed God saying, "My eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles" (Lk 2:31,32). The apostles of Jesus followed their Master's example. Paul said, "I have made it my aim to preach the gospel to whom He was not announced" (Rom 15:20,21).
When there are so many Taluks and Districts in India without a single Church, is it right that we start another Church where
there are already seven Churches? Is it justifiable to spend 10,00,000 rupees for flooring our Church building with marble stone instead of putting up a thatched roof for a worship shed costing just 10,000 rupees for the benefit of a poor tribal congregation?
Why should anyone hear the Gospel twice before
everyone has heard it once?
(Dr. Oswald J. Smith, 1889-1986)
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MYANMAR MINISTRY - MAY 2010
Malachi 3:3
Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it." If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
This very moment, someone needs to know that God is watching over them. And, whatever they're going through, they'll be a better person in the end.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it." If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
This very moment, someone needs to know that God is watching over them. And, whatever they're going through, they'll be a better person in the end.
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