I can’t imagine a brother in Christ saying that he doesn’t like people and doesn’t care if they go to hell. It is unfathomable considering Jesus said the second great commandment is,  “… Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself…” (Mark 12:31). We do love ourselves so that is the standard. We are to love others. Therefore we will be concerned for the eternal welfare of others. 

A few weeks ago I encouraged you learn to engage others when you are out. How have you been doing? The goal isn’t to grab everyone you pass, put an arm lock on him, and preach the gospel to him. But as we love others, we cheerfully engage them, show interest in them, love them, and seek a spiritual bridge. 

The more you practice engaging people, the easier it gets, and the more you will enjoy it. Ask the Lord to give creativity. If someone is walking out of a store and has a big smile, I might say, “Great smile. It is so nice to see someone happy these days.” Or if someone has a big load, “Need any help getting that in your car,” or “May I return your cart for you?” Or after reading lettering on their shirt, “We’ve not been there, but I hear it is a great place. Did you like it?” Or “I love seeing a dad out with his children. Are you enjoying parenting?” Or (if he looks military) “Are you stationed here, or in the CGSC class? Where’s home?” Or “I’d love a pickup like that.” Or “I like to guess what line of work someone is in, are you a ____?” Or …

The idea is to get used to engaging people with no pressure to share the gospel. People feel loved when someone shows interest in them. Genuinely love them and attempt to dialog with them. They won’t bite your head off. At least, I’ve never had anyone say, “Shut up, and leave me alone!” 

Practice at church with visitors. It’s sad how often no one talks to visitors except to say, “Hello, welcome.”

When I had a project that I wanted rock-solid, one that would last, I chose concrete. It’s kid-proof, and it isn’t going anywhere. I’ve thought of concrete similar to 1 Corinthians 15:58. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 

Steadfast and unmovable were what I thought of regarding concrete, but I’ve since modified that opinion. Years ago there was a concrete patio outside the backdoor of a house we lived in. Recently, I had the opportunity to get a good look at that patio after 20 years. 

Much of the patio was still intact, but there was a large crack that separated it into two big slabs. The side closest to the house had sunk over a foot. What seemed stedfast, was still very firm, but it had moved – in fact to the point of not being usable. The patio concrete moved because the ground it was resting on next to the foundation sunk. If the patio had been “pinned” to the foundation, it would not have moved when the ground moved. 

That is what we need if we are to be steadfast and unmovable. Even if we are solid in our beliefs, we must be pinned/attached to the Lord Jesus, our God, our rock, Who is unchangeable. “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress” (Psalms 71:3). We will be pulled down by the world around us. It might look firm, but it’s a slippery slope, and we will slide with it. 

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower” (Psalms 18:2).

It’s another new year, brothers. I hope each of you has incorporated a read-through-the-Bible -n-a-year plan. You might use it for family Bible time or your own private reading. It is so beneficial for us to have that cover-to-cover, overall familiarity each year. What a blessing. It is huge for your children to see the Word of God having a priority in your life as you also model it for theirs. We are always teaching them by our choices.

Sadly, I have known many through the years who won’t take time to read the Bible. Amazing how we all find time to do the things that are important to us, and somehow we are too busy for the things that will most benefit our lives. 

When someone has little interest in reading God’s Word that is a huge red flag as to whether they are even saved. We would not expect a lost person to want to read Scripture. Also just like a child who only eats junk food has little to no interest in healthy food. If someone is streaming the world’s entertainment/media into their mind, they will have no interest in what is healthy for their soul. 

Oh my brothers, to the Word! It is the ultimate health food for the soul.

“… Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God:” (Matthew 4:4).

There is an attribute of God that seems to be forgotten by “Christians” today. It is also symptomatic of a low view of God, exemplified in bringing God down to our level. He is simply the “man upstairs.” “These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes” (Psalms 50:21). The “awe” is lost and “worship” is more about being entertained with spiffy music and a non-biblical, non-convicting story time. 

God is holy, and He calls His children to live holy lives. “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). Is that your heart’s desire?

I’ve been rereading Jerry Bridges book The Pursuit of Holiness. He used two of my favorite verses in describing making right decisions. 

“But what about issues that are not specifically mentioned in the Scriptures—how do we determine God’s will and develop conviction in those areas? Years ago a friend gave me what he called his “Formula: How to Know Right from Wrong.” 

The formula asks four questions based on three verses in 1 Corinthians: Everything is permissible for me—but not everything is beneficial . 

Question 1: Is it helpful—physically, spiritually, and mentally?
“‘All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Corinthians 6:12). 

Question 2: Does it bring me under its power? 
“Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” (1 Corinthians 8:13). 

Question 3: Does it hurt others?
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). 

Question 4: Does it glorify God?”

Brothers, our world is in a downward spiral. I plead with you, don’t get pulled down with it. 

(Another great book is Holinessby J.C. Ryle)

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” (Luke 10:17-18). Notice that the seventy disciples who were out sharing Christ had joy as a result of their obedience in serving. Next, Jesus affirmed them by telling that He saw Satan being cast down as a result of the seventies’ obedience. “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:17).  Next, consider the joy of those who had been ministered to by the seventy in hearing about Jesus and those healed. What a triple praise that resulted from the seventies’ obedience. 

What if the seventy, instead of being obedient to the Lord, chose activities (non-sinful of course) that would have been fun and relaxing. Maybe it would have been the historical Bible times equivalent to watching a good movie, a favorite team play, or the news. Consider the blessings and praise which would have been missed. 

Oh my brothers, any time you think of the dismal state of our nation or what we are facing these elections, consider that it might not be like this if Christians, since the founding of our nation, chose obedience like the seventy. The opiate of the masses is pleasure and fun because, of course, there is nothing wrong with it. 

“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2).

(Note: did you catch the intentional contradiction above? If the 70 had chosen to do anything other than what Jesus told them to do, even if considered sinless activities, they would have been disobedient, meaning sinning. Hmmm. What about us?)