jesu juva
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
“Make the Book live to me, O Lord. Show me Thyself within Thy Word. Show me myself. And show me my Savior. And make the Book live to me.” R. Hudson Pope, Ca 1944
Have you ever stopped to think that on Easter Sunday you may be joined by many people who don’t know much about what makes Easter special to believers. Of course, they know about the cross and Judas. But many won’t know much about the Gospel.
It is regrettable but, many regular church attendees may share that problem on any given Sunday. Could church actually be considered a mission field?
Unfortunately, it’s easy to assume that most of the people who attend church regularly are happily saved believers. But the present moral decline and the disdain for God, lead me to think that isn’t true anymore.
A big problem is that people nowadays believe in a feel-good gospel or a prosperity gospel. Neither philosophy is based on the Word of God. Both of those philosophies teach what the Bible refers to as another gospel. Galatians 6:1-9 They are not the Gospel at all.
But the Bible tells us that God isn’t willing for anyone to die lost. Scripture also tells us that it’s God’s kindness that leads people to repentance. God is found in warm and loving hearts. The true Body of Christ will always tell the Truth of God’s Word. The Biblical Body of Christ cares about the lost people anywhere at any time.
That brings us to our theme for today. Why do so many people go to church only on Easter Sunday?
I believe that God created every life to know Him. The Bible teaches that God placed eternity in our hearts. It may sound simplistic, but I believe that is the real reason why many people attend Easter services in great numbers.
Everyone knows there is something more. I think even lost people realize the story of the cross is where they will find what’s missing.
On Easter Sunday there may be lost people all around us. There probably will be. Maybe they are hoping that a believer will just tug at the thread and help unravel the Gospel from the tangle of other false doctrines they’ve heard about.
What they don’t realize is that our loving Lord has already begun to pull that thread by guiding them to Church (*). That’s why they are there. He is seeking them.
Just watch where God is working and be prepared (Luke 10:2) to speak up if the Spirit leads you to say something.
This Sunday, notice the lives seated near you. You don’t have to know their names. Just see them. Speak to them. Just go with a soft and willing heart. Watch for God. The Holy Spirit will tell you if He wants you to reach out.
I do know that even if no opportunity presents itself for sharing the Gospel you can spend a few quiet moments interceding on behalf of the lives in your proximity. Pray in your own way for them. No one needs to know what you are doing. The Holy Spirit hears your thoughts. He will help you. Look at the passage below. This is how God works.
Romans 8:26-27 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
If you are a believer who is not walking in a committed, close relationship with Jesus, then I hope you will turn around. Run back to the Father, just like the Prodigal Son. He will welcome you back and clean you up. True believers are never lost. But the cost of grace was too high to settle for a life of saved apathy.
Prepare for Easter Sunday with the passages below:
Soli Deo Gloria!
(*) Church – Church with a capital “C”. The Body of Christ. The church with a small “c” is a building. The distinction is critical.
Resources
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 