I love lost men. There is absolutely nothing that can describe my deep passionate love for lost young men and woman. But the other day I was pondering this thought: how do I love them so? It is something I never really thought about or tried to give and answer to. But through prayer and studying the Word I have drawn a conclusion, and it is my desire to share with you the secret that compells a man to give up his life so that another might live.
When a man comes to Christ he denies himself, completely. The selfish and lustful man he once lived for is dead and now he lives to glorify Christ and Christ alone and his desires of are no longer His desires but rather the desires of God. And,
"God desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth."
[1 Timothy 2:4]
Therefore since it is the desire of God for men to be saved it instinctively becomes the desire of the believer. The love that God has for lost men the believer now also have. But it is not just this that creates the obsession of the believer to lead others to Christ. You see, God not only loved us and desired for us to obtain salvation, but he completely gave up himself so that we might live.
"He emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." [Philippians 2:7-8]
It is none other than true and absolute love that compelled our Lord to leave His glorious throne in Heaven to come to sinful earth and give His life so that sinful man might live. That is true love, for He gave up His own life that we might die to sin and live to righteousness through Christ [1 Peter 2:24].
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And just as it was the obsession of God for us to be saved, it is also our obsession to see other men saved. And just as love was so great for us that Christ was willing to die on a Cross for us, so also is our love so great for lost men that we are willing to go anywhere and suffer anything so that they may find life, true life in Christ.
"Greater love has none than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
[John 15:13]
1 Timothy 2:4 is an incredibly precious verse to me, because it is precisely for this reason that Christ saved me and all of His children. It's absolutely breath-taking that God would give us His own desires to make us His own hands and feet in this earth!
ReplyDeleteIn Christ,
Annie
Thank you very much. All for Christ and His glory!
ReplyDeleteGrace be with you,
Andrew