Words are important. Yes they are, very important.
If you don’t think so just misspell one word on
your smart phone and hit send before you read it. I
was on the receiving end of such a conversation not long
ago. In the individuals trying to spell shut, but
instead this person spelt something entirely
different. Let’s just say we had some fun that day
back and forth.
In the church today people often say,
“I don’t like the word lost.” Does it matter what we like? I mean
really? Why are we afraid of the word lost?
The words saved and lost are
very biblical words that communicate the all important life
change that needs to happen! These words are in the Bible and that’s the
word the Christian community should use. I do not think
we should redefine what the Bible teaches. Words are
important.
When we redefine what the Bible
teaches, we lose our power, our purpose, and our
voice. That is what’s wrong with America today. I
tell you one thing: If I’m lost at sea, and the Coast Guard comes
to me with those big orange life preservers that float I am not going
to say, “ I want to make sure that you understand
the condition that I am in." I am not going to
say, "I want you to understand the deliverance that I need.
And I know that these terms are described in many different ways...”
No, not at all! I’m going to say, “ save me!”
When Simon Peter was sinking on the
water, what did he say? He said, “Lord save
me!” The reality today is that lost people need to get
saved! The words we use are important! These words
communicate life change that needs to occur in everyone, everywhere!
In Romans chapter 10 versus 1 through 4 Paul has some
amazing important words to say.
Romans 10:1-4
New International Version (NIV)
10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to
God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For
I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is
not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know
the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit
to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination
of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Paul used his writings {WORDS} to
reach out to the lost, he used his writings {words} to
reach out to the churches. He wrote these letters to churches
and he was telling these churches about the Christian life, and
he was telling them the need to engage
in evangelism. He explained many times over the
gospel message and the shared responsibility of the church community to
share the faith with words to those around them. Keep in mind
that Paul had bad eyes, and many times he had to use a
scribe in order to convert the thoughts in his mind to words on a page. When
he did write himself he had parchments and crude writing pens and he
wrote HUGE WORDS with his own hand. Here
is the point: Paul took what he
had and he reached HIS world for Jesus Christ.
I want you to be challenged today to
use what you have touch the world – your world
with the gospel in words and ways that are real! How about texting someone
a word from the word? This is
right were I need to challenge you today. Every
day we are passing up great tools for the Gospel. Paul
used letters - he did not have text messages -
if he had technology at his finger tips I can imagine Paul would have
used it for the gospel.
What I cannot imagine is Paul using modern
technology to say that “burrito was awesome.” I think he would’ve sent a text
message saying, “the Lord loves you and I’ve been praying for you thinking
about you and just wanted to remind you that God gave his best for
you in Jesus Christ.”
I think Paul would have used
e-mails for God’s glory! We send e-mails to everyone, how
might we use our e-mail for the glory of God to reach this world with the
gospel? What about Facebook? Twitter, or other
social media? Have you ever thought about using your Facebook for
Jesus? Now some of you may have to change a little
bit of what you’re putting on there.
Think about it would you? I mean if you arer going to put the
plan of salvation on there one-day, please do us all a
huge favor and don’t be talking about going to the casinos the next!
I want to challenge you to put in your bio the
fact that you were lost and this is how you came to know Jesus
Christ, and then to say this is how you can know Jesus Christ
yourself! Please say this with all the
love of Christ. At the end of the day, it is more important
for you to put the gospel of Jesus Christ on your Facebook page then a picture
of you of that tacky bathing suit and sombrero!
Here’s what I want you to do today. I want you to take out your phone. I
want you to send someone a text message, or
an e-mail - right now. I want you to make
a contact send someone a heartfelt message that they are loved and
missed and that you are praying for them. Why not text a verse
of scripture to someone today?
