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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The Gospel: an option or obligation?

This is a blog post from my friend Kevin Connell at http://www.hiimkevin.com/

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A few days ago I was reading Romans and came across a verse I’ve read many times. This time it wouldn’t let me go.

For I have a great sense of OBLIGATION to people in BOTH the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated AND uneducated alike. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving EVERYONE who believes…” (Romans 1:14,16 – NLT)

No matter whom you come across today, in light of the gospel, you’re obligated to them.

Obligated.

Why don’t we have a sense of obligation like Paul did?

· Maybe we see ourselves as better than them. (Paul’s perspective was different. He labeled himself as the worst of sinners.)

· Maybe we are ashamed of the Gospel

· Maybe we’d rather serve them than verbally share with them (see Romans 10:14)

· Maybe we are fearful or lazy

· Maybe we don’t believe it really does have the power to change lives

Maybe you believed it a long time ago, but have since then lost your passion about it. If we don’t believe it, why should anyone else? We don’t need to pray for an opportunity today, we need to pray for boldness, conviction, and a broken heart for those who don’t know God.

It’s not an option, it’s an obligation.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Have you ever prayed for your great-grandchildren?

This is a story that really inspires me. There are a lot of people who are similar to the way I am. I want to do tremendos things for the Kingdom. I want to be a part of a "movement of God." But sometimes I spend so much "doing" things that I forget to set time aside to discuss things over with my Creator. If you are that way too then I hope this story inspires you as well.

In Point Man, Steve Farrar tells the story of George McCluskey. When McCluskey married and started a family, he decided to invest one hour a day in prayer, because he wanted his kids to follow Christ. After a time, he expanded his prayers to include his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Every day between 11 a.m. and noon, he prayed for the next three generations.

As the years went by, his two daughters committed their lives to Christ and married men who went into full-time ministry. The two couples produced four girls and one boy. Each of the girls married a minister, and the boy became a pastor. The first two children born to this generation were both boys. Upon graduation from high school, the two cousins chose the same college and became roommates. During their sophomore year, one boy decided to go into the ministry. The other didn't. He undoubtedly felt some pressure to continue the family legacy, but he chose instead to pursue his interest in psychology. He earned his doctorate and eventually wrote books for parents that became bestsellers.

He started a radio program heard on more than a thousand stations each day. The man's name was James Dobson. "Through his prayers, George McCluskey affected far more than one family."

So I will ask the question again, "When was the last time you prayed for your great-grandchildren?"