Daily Devotional for Saturday, March 25th

Paul’s Preaching

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect,” 1 Corinthians 1:17.

“Oh, I believe that all about us, touching our elbows today, waiting in the store and in the street, looking into our faces across the table, are people who are waiting for the touch of a living, earnest Christian in order to be led into the kingdom of God.” —Source: Present Day Parables, John Wilbur Chapman
As a Pastor, I have learned much from studying modern-day church growth principles from many writers and Christian practitioners. I have learned much about targeting an audience or studying demographics and how to draw them to the church I Pastor. I have read articles and blogs that tell me which attractional methods work better than others. Yet so few of them tell me the importance of faithfully sharing the gospel with everyone I encounter in my daily life.
Paul did not seem to wait for the perfect opportunity to preach the gospel to friendly crowds of people. Nor did Paul study demographics of neighborhoods and towns to see where would be the most receptive. Paul obediently entered religious crowds, political gatherings, court proceedings, pagan worship sites and many more places simply to proclaim the gospel.
Paul had no fear of social stigma, peer pressure, workplace ridicule, legal punishment or even death. Everywhere Paul travelled was a place intentionally chosen for the purpose of declaring the gospel. Even while imprisoned facing the death penalty, Paul preached. This politically powerful, socially esteemed, former murderer of Christians had been changed by the power of Christ. Thus, he committed his life to the proclamation of the very power that saved him and gave him eternal hope.

REFLECTION: As Paul did not wait for comfortable circumstances to declare the gospel, we too should faithfully declare Jesus everywhere we go.

Steven Ridings