Lest we forget...
Yes, we must sermonize about sin - it is what send our Savior to the cross. Yes, we must reason about righteousness - it is a requirement in the Kingdom. Indeed we must call people to purity - it is praiseworthy in God’s system. But as you “go to the mound tomorrow” remember we are about forgiveness. We desire with all of our hearts to gather people to grace, to be a forecaster of forgiveness, to be ambassadors of reconciliation.
Take a moment today and prayerfully consider each of these verses and then go with Gospel News:
“As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11 KJV). “I don’t like to see wicked people die. I enjoy seeing them turn from their sins and live” (CEV).
“The Lord...is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV). “He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change” (MSS).
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 KJV). “But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners” (NCV).
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV).
“...you go and preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60).
“Believe me, friends, all I want for Israel is what’s best for Israel: salvation, nothing less. I want it with all my heart and pray to God for it all the time” (Romans 10:1 MSS).
“...that repentance andforgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations” (Luke 24:47 ESV).
“For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men” (Titus 2:11 RSV).
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:14-18 NKJV).
Sometimes in correcting and knowing what we know we sometimes forget what we must not forget and don’t communicate what we must communicate - God wants people to be saved! That is why He send His beloved and that is why we preach.