Weekend, March 5, 2022
A Heart That Cares
“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one” (Ezekiel 22:30 NLT).
C. H. Spurgeon, known as “the prince of preachers,” had this to say about sharing your faith: “The Holy Spirit will move [nonbelievers] by first moving you. If you can rest without their being saved, they will rest too. But if you are filled with an agony for them, if you cannot bear that they should be lost, you will soon find that they are uneasy too.”
I think, if we were brutally honest, we would admit that one reason we don’t intercede for the salvation of others is because we just don’t care. And if we don’t care, we’re not going to share.
For instance, Jonah didn’t want to go and preach the gospel to the Ninevites because, frankly, he did not want them to repent. They were cruel people, and Israel had suffered under their hands.
Moses, in contrast, interceded for the Israelites. In fact, he made this amazing statement to the Lord: “But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!” (Exodus 32:32 NLT).
In other words, Moses was saying, “Lord, if it would make a difference, if it would mean that they would be forgiven, then take my name out of Your book.”
That’s an intercessor. That is someone standing in the gap. And God is still looking for people to stand in the gap today. Thankfully, though, we don’t have to give up our hope of eternal life so that someone else can have it. Jesus Christ already has purchased that for us on the cross.
Will you be an intercessor? Will you stand in the gap? There are people all around you who need to hear about Jesus Christ. Will you take a step of faith and start an evangelistic conversation?
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Do your thoughts ever feel out of control? You’re not alone. And you’re not stuck. In his new book, Tame Your Thoughts, pastor and bestselling author Max Lucado helps you identify toxic thinking and replace it with the truth of Scripture. Clear and compelling, this book outlines biblical tools to help you stop unhealthy thought patterns and find peace, perspective, and joy in Christ. Request your copy of Tame Your Thoughts with your gift to Harvest Ministries this month.
