Become World-Class Christians—Part 12
READINGS – Part 3
Oswald Chambers, writer of the devotional classic My Utmost for His Highest, reminds us that “the basis of missionary appeals is the authority of Jesus Christ, not the needs of the heathen.” In other words, we commit ourselves to growth as world-class Christians because Jesus says so in His Word, not because it is the popular or emotionally attractive thing to do.
In the mid-1980s, the world’s attention turned toward the plight of famine-ravaged people in Ethiopia and the Sudan. An enormously successful concert raised millions of dollars to help alleviate the suffering. At that time, talking about the “Sahel region,” discussing the injustices being done toward Eritrean people, and giving sacrificially to assist the hungry gave one admittance into the popular limelight.
Eighteen months after the concert, however, attentions had turned elsewhere. The emotional appeal of northern Africa had dissipated, and projects which had been initiated during the “boom” of giving were abandoned half-completed because the money, like the soil of these countries, had dried up.
Why? Because emotions cannot sustain the mission. They are necessary and operate effectively as catalysts, but they are not enough. Our vision for being involved as world-class Christians must be built on the sure foundation of God’s Word. Our global commitment emanates out of the heart of God, not out of some popular fad of our times.
We build our vision and sustained involvement on the purposes of God as revealed in His Word.
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How to Be a World-Class Christian, Paul Borthwick, Victor, pages 34-35.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
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