Good evening, my friend. How’re you doing? Welcome to this week’s edition of The Jesus Therapy Seven. I pray the Lord speaks to you as you seek Him wholeheartedly, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Wednesday, 24 April 2024
And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
- John 16:8 NLT
We often forget that we are not called to convict men, but to present the unadulterated truth of God’s Word to them and trust God to do His work. Often, we want to do both. It’s only a matter of time and we’ll discover that it is not the strength with which the sinfulness of sin is preached that turns men to God, but the commitment of God in bringing His Word to pass — He will convict the world of its sin.
A Heart of Love in Supplication
During church service on Sunday, it dawned on me that Moses had no justification to be angry at the Israelites on God’s behalf. After all, they were being rebellious to God, not him. For anyone who has seen the light, it’s almost inconceivable why anyone would want to rebel against God. We’re angry at unrighteousness. We detest sin. We want people to quit sin and come to know the Lord. We can’t stand any reproach to the name of the Lord. Yet, God says it is His to convict. You do your part.
Moses’ ministry teaches us that Christians today are called to entreat the Lord for the unsaved. At every point the Israelites sinned, it was not Moses’ anger but His plea for mercy that set them on course for reconciliation with God. Of a truth, man’s anger can never produce the righteousness of God.
While we preach, we must desire a heart that entreats the Lord over the souls of men — “Lord, in your wrath, remember mercy. Remember the sacrifice of your Son. Remember your desire to have all men come to the saving knowledge of Jesus…” This was the nature of Moses’ plea in Exodus 32.
Quickly washing our hands off a soul is a sign that we’ve not been entreating the Lord for the salvation of their soul. When we continue to mention men in prayer, a connection is built and our hearts are enlarged more and more to love them and desire that their souls be saved, no matter how hardened they have become by the deceitfulness of sin.
Love Convicts
If the love of Jesus expressed in our conduct does not affect sinners, the Bible would not ask us to love. There is a place for preaching and one for sowing our lives as a seed. Hence the counsel to us remains — if we love those who love us and hate those who hate us, what good is that? Do not the Gentiles do the same?
Therefore, we’re called to overcome evil with good.
If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head (Romans 12:20).
The counsel to wives with unbelieving husbands is still potent — to be submissive, though their husbands do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives when they observe their chaste conduct accompanied by fear (1 Peter 3:1-2).
An unbelieving husband once testified, having been saved, “Please thank my wife. It was her patience all these years that made this possible today.”
Is this not love’s conviction?
May the Lord help us to insist on love when all else fails. In an atmosphere of love, God moves!
May the Lord relent from His anger because a heart of love was moved to entreat Him, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Till next time,
Wednesday, God-willing.
Absolutely loved reading this ❤
Thank God, Nnamdi! God bless you🫶🏻