The Urgency of the Call
Feb 2, 2021 at 6:26 AM
‘I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!’ (1 Corinthians 9:16, NIV)
I’ve always avoided sharing the gospel.
Just now during prayer, I was still wondering: is Paul’s calling my calling too?
In today’s reading, Oswald Chambers mentions, ‘The Lord did not establish the conditions for becoming a disciple as the conditions for salvation.’ (Not sure if this statement is correct) My sly heart thinks, I’m saved and that’s enough, no need to be a disciple. Being a disciple is too costly.
But just like genuinely loving someone, that love will deepen; similarly, if I truly know God and love Him sincerely, that love will grow to where I’m willing to ‘give up everything to follow Him,’ willing to become ‘a vessel for the Lord’s use,’ ready to be used and sent by Him.
I love the Lord very little. But if, at this moment, the Lord asks me: Do you want to love Me? I would say, I want to love You. This is my desire, not by force.
So, even if I’m unsure whether Chambers’ ‘The Lord did not establish the conditions for becoming a disciple as the conditions for salvation’ is correct, I also don’t want to stay in the ‘saved’ position. I want a deeper, more profound relationship with God and am willing to move toward the identity of ‘disciple.’
With this, preaching is relevant to me. Not preaching would be woe to me.
I’ve always intended to share the gospel with a friend, but I’ve yet to take action. What’s the hindrance? I paused to reflect; externally, there seems to be no obstacle. It’s mainly reluctance and worry. Reluctance to reach out to people whose lifestyles, ways of speaking, and interests differ greatly from mine. Worry, mainly about the pandemic.
But woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. Isn’t this woe greater than my personal preferences? More fearful than the pandemic?
Thank God:
- Last night before sleep, gave myself a ten-minute neck massage, and this morning my neck feels relaxed. Thank God for His protection. I did the massage, but whether my body regains comfort is not up to me. Thank God;
- Last night, cried and prayed in my sleep, in a state of complete openness and courage before God. It was freeing, light, peaceful. Even this morning, felt more relaxed;
- Thank God for more communication with Yanbing as we think together about raising our children;