Bible Reading: Psalm 7-9; Acts 17:1-15
“And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved:; but he that believeth not shall be damned” Mark 16:15-16(KJV)
The above focal scripture is an instruction to all Christ disciples, which must of a necessity be cardinal to the life of a Christian. The above scripture does not state what we should do under any hazard or peril. We were instructed to go and preach the gospel to all the world and to every creature irrespective of the danger involved or human limitation placed on the exercise. The preaching of the gospel is two sided in terms of reception. It can result in salvation of soul and can also lead to offence. This was the case in our scriptural reading of today in the books of acts. The effect of the preached gospel can have positive or negative reception. The gospel can be a stumbling block to them whose practices of evil are exposed as in the case of Elymas as narrated in Acts 13:8-11. Preaching of the gospel can also unveil false knowledge. The effect of these negative impact are aggressive reactions that can lead to Christian persecution. Such was the case with Paul, Timothy and Silas in Thessalonica and Berea. The offended Jews in Thessalonica continued to go after them frustrating the gospel of Christ by raising sentiment among the people to cause insurrection. In all these Paul was inundated as he continue to forge ahead with preaching the gospel wherever he gets to. The injunction of Christ above did not say we should avoid any place in the cause of preaching the gospel. Even in the communist and Islamic countries where persecution of Christians is rife we are to reach all the world and all creatures.
Jesus Christ knew that there are dangers and perils associated to the preaching of the gospel, but did not restrain us from been victims of such in His injunction to us. We are expected to ensure the reach to the entire world irrespective of human restrictions. This underscores the importance of this assignment handed over to us. The bible stated that even when Paul arrived Athens trying to escape the persecution of the Jews in Thessalonica and Berea, he could not still hold his peace, the scripture records that, “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry” Acts 17:16(KJV).
The question is how many of us are even preaching the gospel in a free society? How often have we responded to Christ’s instruction by preaching to our neighbours and our colleagues in the office? How often do we tell people about our belief and faith? Most of us hide our Christian identity in the office for fear of being hated or despised by our bosses. Most of us are even ashamed of our Christian confession talk less of preaching. Preaching the gospel of the kingdom is a major channel of our demonstrating our love for God. God’s love gave us Christ as a ransom for us. Preaching the gospel is loving what God loves. Consequently, not preaching the gospel is despising what God loves. Neglecting the injunction of Christ to extend God’s love to humanity is a complete disobedience of which we will be held liable on that day when we shall appear at the judgment seat of Christ. A notable song writer Charles C Luther in 1877 wrote a song “Must I go, and empty handed. Must I meet my Saviour so? Not one soul with to greet Him, Must I empty handed-go.” When I sing this song I feel a chill down my spine.
Dear brethren, as you read this piece it is a wake-up call to carry out the very important assignment handed over to us by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Prayer: O God my father empower me by your Spirit to preach and win soul to the Kingdom.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo