N is for NOW

“N” is for Now. I hope that even though this is the 6th daily message in this series that it will not be missed, because I think that it is the most important one. As we have looked at the subject of MISSION this week we have identified that our MISSION is Mandated by Jesus, that we would Intentionally reach out, empowered by the Spirit to Simply see Incredible things happen as we preach One Message of hope to a hurting and dying world. That is all well and good and will always potentially happen if we never get to today’s thoughts. The missing part of this week’s thoughts is the timeframe in which we can expect to see this happen. Today we answer that question by saying that the time to reach our neighbors in NOW.

In 2 Cor 6:2 we read, ‘I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.’ This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. We need to not put off our intentional outreach but instead we need to make our mission a part of our life. I have found that often in our middle-class society that we have that ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude where we think that nothing bad will happen to us or anyone we know and love. What is certain though is that no man knows the future. One of the hardest things I have had to do was to talk to a family member who lost a loved one who did not know Jesus. The pain of knowing that according to the bible only those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior will reign with him in glory is tough to bear. We need to be gripped once again with such compassion and love for the lost that we can do nothing but tell people about Jesus. We need a new sense of urgency. I often compare outreach and mission with the latest medical breakthrough. When a group of scientists or doctors identify a cure for a certain disease the one thing that that group is sure to do is to spread the good news about the cure they have found. They appear on TV and radio, there are internet postings and blogs written, the world knows all about it. Just think how quickly the word spread about the recent swine flu. Well, we have the cure to death itself. We have the keys to eternal life. We know the truth and the truth will set people free. What should we do about it? Should we just keep it to ourselves and share it only with those who come to us and ask? Should we wait until we can create the right event at our church that the lost will come to? Maybe we should follow the Mandate given by our commander-in-chief, Jesus – “Therefore, GO…”

Just something to think about as you go about your day today.