Coming and Going

Posted on by korgrocker

““Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.” Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.””
John 16:28-30 NLT

History records that there have been many people who have said that they are divine. People who have claimed that they are “gods” and deserve affirmation and worship from those around them. The problem is, however, that their graves are still on Planet Earth. The people in North Korea regard their founder, Kim Il-sung, to be divine. But he died in 1994 and his body lies under a glass cover in Pyongyang, with extraordinary attempts being made to prevent it from decomposing. Every year in mid-April, the country stops to offer their praise and worship to their “god”. But only Jesus is the true God. As He said, He came from His Father, and was soon to return to Him. And, most significantly, there is no grave on this planet containing Jesus’ bones. But we know what happened to Jesus, and it was just as he said. Acts 1:9, “After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him“. In front of witnesses Jesus returned to Heaven, witnesses who were the remaining eleven disciples. These were not men who would have been taken in by some fancy conjuring trick. They knew what they were seeing, and a couple of angels were there just to make sure that they didn’t make a mistake. ““Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”” (Acts 1:11). As an aside, we must consider that there is a human being in Heaven, the man Jesus who is both divine and human. Perhaps a bit unbelievable or controversial to some, but where else can Jesus be?

Jesus’ entry into this world was well-trailed by the Old Testament prophets, and the Jewish nation at that time were expectant that their Messiah was coming soon. Scriptures such as Isaiah 9:6, “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace“. Isaiah 7:14, “All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)“. Some Biblical scholars claim that Jesus fulfilled over three hundred Old Testament prophecies in His earthly ministry. The coming of the Son of God was witnessed by His people, and the records of His advent exist both inside and outside the Bible. But there still many prophecies yet to be fulfilled about Jesus, because, as the Acts 1:11 angels said to the Eleven, “he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go”. 

As we pilgrims know, the main impact of Jesus and His ministry, His death and resurrection, was that He fulfilled God’s plan for the salvation of mankind. Paul wrote about this plan in Ephesians 1:4-5, “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure“.

We pilgrims are chosen of God. We are a privileged people. We rejoice in our salvation, and we look forward to seeing the fruit of it one day. Come Lord Jesus!

Dear Lord Jesus. Thanks You for coming to this earth to show us the way to salvation and eternal life. Amen.

Dearly Loved

Posted on by korgrocker

“I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.
John 16:25-27 NLT

We pilgrims know and understand that God loves us. In fact, Jesus said that we are dearly loved by His Father because we love His Son and believe that He came from God. But in a sense we also know that God loves everyone. The Scripture John 3:16, “For God so loved the world …..” paints a picture of a God who mercifully loves His creation even though most do not reciprocate that love. Sometimes we wonder why God “loves” those who are so evil and who reject Him so forcefully, but instead of punishing those who do wrong on the spot, He allows them to continue their lives, giving them an opportunity to repent and turn to Him. We speak about “common grace”, as illustrated by Jesus in Matthew 5:45b, ” ….For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike“. God’s love is not conditional on a response from human beings, but He allows sinful man (and woman) to continue their lives and finally enter the place they have chosen for their spell in eternity.

God created man in His image (Genesis 1:27) and with that the ability to love. Human beings possess what is termed as free will, the ability to make choices. And loving somebody is a choice we can make. But the downside of having free will is the ability to hate. Love and hate are emotions and responses that we find embedded deep within our world cultures, and we know that there is an enemy lurking behind everyone ready to influence good and bad choices (mostly bad) to suit his evil agendas. But Jesus came to this world saying counter-cultural things like “love your enemy” (Matthew 5:43-44), overturning established thinking and founding a Kingdom aligned to God’s will.

So, the question for everyone, including us pilgrims, is “do you love Jesus and believe He is God’s Son”? The answer to that question will determine a person’s future beyond the grave.

Dear Father, thank You for Your love and for Jesus, who was the outworking of that love for all mankind. Amen.

Jesus Figuratively

Posted on by korgrocker

“I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.”
John 16:25-27 NLT

Why did Jesus use parables or figurative language when He spoke to those around Him? Apart from the fact that this was a common form of communication in those days, and has been used in one form or another ever since, the use of illustrations in the way that Jesus did somehow made events and situations easier to remember. Even humorous examples today, using figurative language, like, “That comment landed like a lead balloon” or “He’s as useful as a chocolate teapot” somehow convey a meaning far beyond what would otherwise be recorded as “That was an inappropriate comment”, or “He’s useless”. A good example in book form is The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, a book rich in hidden meanings and allegorical language. 

Jesus often used parables to illustrate a point that He was making. Although there are about thirty five parables in the Gospels, a good example is the Parable of the Soils (or Sower), that we find in Matthew 13. Jesus was surrounded by a crowd of people so He borrowed a boat and taught the people who were standing on the shore. In Matthew 13:3, we read, “He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds“. And He ended the parable, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand” (Matthew 13:9). ‭‭And that really illustrates the point of figurative language and messages in the form of parables. Those with spiritual “ears” would understand, but those who had little interest or just didn’t “get it” would miss the point. 

The disciples asked Jesus why He used parables and we find His answer in Matthew 13:11-12, “He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them“. Imagine today, if we asked someone to read the Parable of the Soils, someone who had had no previous church or Biblical exposure and was without any understanding of spiritual matters. How would they respond? Some would understand but many wouldn’t. There are sadly many around us in our societies who lack spiritual ears, so what would they make of this Parable? If they have the listening ears that Jesus referred to then they would understand. The Holy Spirit works in amazing and enlightening ways, but many would cast aside what they had read and instead would move on to deal with, what they would consider, more important matters. 

Jesus had used figurative language to describe His person and work. Examples would include His seven “I Am” statements comparing Himself to bread, light, a gate, a shepherd, resurrection and life, the way, the truth and the life and a vine. These figures of speech were hard for the disciples to understand while Jesus was with them. In Mark 4, Jesus quoted a verse from Isaiah 6:9-10, “And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’ Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing“. 

But although puzzled, even confused, at the time, there was going to come a time when the disciples would understand these allegories, and the figurative language. This time arrived following His death, burial and resurrection and with the coming of the Holy Spirit. Today, we pilgrims are those who understand the parables because we have Holy Spirit within us, the One who leads us into all truth. So before we reach for the keyboard so that we can consult Mr Google, instead we should go to the Source of the parables Himself, our Lord and Master Jesus. 

Dear Father God, the Source of all truth. Through Jesus You alone are the One who can bring spiritual light into our secular world. We are so grateful. Amen.

Robbing the Joy

Posted on by korgrocker

“So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.”
John 16:22-24 NLT

We need to start with a definition of joy. Most people use it as a synonym for happiness but there is a difference. Both joy and happiness are emotional experiences, but it is the root of this experience, the context of where it comes from, that matters. Jesus wasn’t referring to a source of happiness that comes from a pleasurable activity. He was referring to a joy that comes from the relationship the disciples had with Himself and their Heavenly Father. And such a relationship produces a joy that is impervious to the trials and sorrows we experience in this world. The Psalmist, David, wrote, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever” (Psalm 16:11).

Jesus referred to “abundant joy” in our verses today. John 10:10 reads, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly“. The word “abundant”, describing joy and life, truly describes a counter-cultural experience far beyond anything our secular world can find. A joy that even in some way is detached from society around us. A joy that never left the early Christians as they faced martyrdom in the Roman amphitheaters, prisons and on crosses of torture. A joy that even today seems to elevate us pilgrims above the trials and tribulations of life. A joy that James wrote about in James 1:2, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy”. Paul also wrote about this joy in Romans 5:3, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.”

What is there that could rob us pilgrims of this joy, the abundant joy experienced by those early Christians, and available to all believers everywhere? Our enemy the devil will soon put his finger on any weak point that would bring us down. But even though he is still the god of this world, he was defeated by Jesus Christ at Calvary. The devil’s days are numbered and one day he will find himself in a place of total darkness, created for him and his demonic angels. But in the meantime, we remember the words of Paul about Jesus, “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross” (Colossians 2:15).

We pilgrims are living in the light of Jesus’ victory. Through Him we continue to live a life of joy, and one day our joy will be complete in Jesus’ presence. And we remember the words in Nehemiah 8:10b, “ … Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

Dear Lord Jesus. Thank You for Your sacrifice at Calvary, giving us the opportunity to live a life of joy. Amen.


‭‭

From Grief to Joy

Posted on by korgrocker

“Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.” Jesus realised they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labour. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.”
John 16:17-22 NLT

This conversation started up between “some of the disciples”. We don’t know which ones, but some talked and some thought. Natural reactions to the crisis that was unfolding before them. If Jesus had said to them that soon He was going to be killed by the Roman authorities and would end up buried in a rich man’s grave, then they would have perhaps found that easier to understand. Their grieving process would have started and their thoughts would have extended to the period afterwards, as they faced into a life without Jesus. But Jesus said “So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again”. Such an event was totally out with their experience and understanding. How could Jesus die and then reappear again? They had obviously forgotten about the Lazarus event, where Jesus had resurrected a man who was graveyard dead, and was still alive at this time as they spoke with each other. But how could Jesus resurrect Himself? They didn’t know the answer and still hadn’t got their minds around the supernatural power of God. But with a natural analogy, Jesus tried to reassure His friends that their emotional experience would be a bit like childbirth, where a woman goes through much pain, but something soon forgotten when the new born baby is placed in her arms. Jesus told His disciples that their grief would soon afterwards be replaced by “wonderful joy”. 

What message is their here for us 21st Century pilgrims? There has to be the Kingdom reality that our faith and God’s power provides a limitless combination. Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:15a, 19-20, “Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus, … I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honour at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” In the same epistle, Paul wrote, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).‭‭‭‭ Sadly, we too often put a boundary around God’s capabilities, looking at the situations around us with worldly eyes, instead of eyes of faith. As we look around at our challenges and sorrows, we mostly forget that our Heavenly Father has a remedy and through our faith He will bring about a Godly result. 

Father God. You are the all-powerful God. Nothing is impossible for You. We praise and worship You today. Amen.

We Don’t Understand

Posted on by korgrocker

““In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.” Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.””
John 16:16-18 NLT

The disciples were unable to get their minds around what Jesus was saying. They knew that something significant was about to happen, because of what Jesus had already told them, but the details of what that was eluded them. But would we have been any different, had we been standing in their shoes at that time in history? All they could do was to store away what they had been told, in faith that Jesus knew best and in the knowledge that He spoke the truth. Even today there are things about the future that we don’t understand. The disciples were facing into something imminent, but we have in the Bible many Scriptures that point towards Jesus coming again to this earth but we don’t know when. His return may be imminent but it also could be a long way off, beyond our life spans. And the vary nature of the events that precede this momentous occasion elude us. We have some hints and even some facts, but no details.

So how do we pilgrims handle future events in God’s Kingdom? As with those first disciples, it all boils down to faith. We have plenty of Biblical examples of men and women who didn’t fully understand what was coming, but they trusted in God. Think about Noah. We can read about the story in Genesis 6 to 9, but his faith lasted a hundred years as he built something the world of that time had never seen before – a boat. A large boat big enough to contain pairs of all the animals and birds present on earth at that time. Consider the ridicule from the people around him, and probably his own family as well. The engineering challenges in trying to build something that was, in those days, cutting edge technology and with a poor selection of tools. That took extraordinary faith. 

We pilgrims look around us and find that there is much that we don’t understand. And that is not just things in the Bible – it includes so much in our world as well. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 8:17, “then I saw all that God has done. No-one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no-one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it”. We will never be able to fully understand all that goes on; only God, the Creator of this world, knows. Even today, scientists are constantly finding out new things about our world, but to ordinary men and women like ourselves, we have faith in our Creator God. We do not fully know and understand all that the future holds, but we do know the One who holds the future. That’s good enough for me.

Father God. You are the One who has the whole world in Your hands. Society around us fearfully goes about its business, without the assurance that You are in control. But we know differently, for which we thank You. Amen.

Spirit of Truth

Posted on by korgrocker

“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’”
John 16:12-15 NLT

Earlier in John 14 we read, “He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. …” Jesus is now re-affirming the work of the Holy Spirit, by saying, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth”. Jesus, of course, always told the truth. In fact, He sometimes preceded what He had to say with a confirmation that it was true. For example, John 8:58 reads, “Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!”” The King James Version of this verse starts with “Verily, verily”, a double assurance that the truth, the absolute truth, is behind Jesus’ words. But as Pilate famously said to Jesus, on trial before Him, “What is truth?”, a question influenced by a confused and rudderless society, where finding truth is elusive. This is because our world is in the hands of the devil, who Jesus warned us about when He said to the Pharisees, “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). So we find endless definitions of the “truth” coming from the lips of our fellow members of society, truths that will dissolve before God’s gaze like snow before a hot sun. Truth is something that has to be absolute reality, and as such it as engaged philosophers for generations without a secular conclusion. Only God’s truth can bring an answer.

A well known saying from Jesus can be found in John 14:6, “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me”. Jesus is the truth. So the records of His teachings in the Bible are truth, and when He left this world He sent Holy Spirit to continue His mission of telling the truth. And through Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, we are also a source of truth. But the truth Jesus brought, and the truth the Holy Spirit guides us in, is anathema to the world around us. They only what to hear the lies that affirm their sins and evil ways. But we pilgrims are privileged in that we have access to the Truth, Jesus Himself.

Dear Father God. All truth emanates from You. Please help us to share it with those around, as You lead and guide us in Your ways. Amen.

Conviction of Judgement

Posted on by korgrocker

“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.”
John 16:7-11 NLT

The Holy Spirit, or the Advocate, as Jesus referred to Him, has a ministry to both believers and unbelievers. Jesus said, “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment“. Jesus didn’t come into this world two thousand years ago to judge it. His mission was to save it, as we read in John 3:17, “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” Jesus went on to say, “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil” (John 3:18-19).

So, inevitably, the sin of unbelief, and all that follows it, will one day have to be judged. And the Apostle John, in his Revelation on the Island of Patmos, wrote down what will happen. “And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books” (Revelation 20:11-12). It is often a great comfort to me, and others as well, that one day the scales of justice will be balanced. The people who have committed crimes against God and their fellow members of society will be called to give an account. Every careless thought, every misdemeanour, every sinful act, will all be written down in Heavenly books, and one by one they will be read out for everyone to hear, followed by the pronouncement from the Throne – guilty. We read in Revelation 20:15, “And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” A terrifying occasion don’t we think? But thankfully, those who believe in Jesus will find that their names are written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

When will all this happen? We don’t know, although the previous chapters of Revelation provide some sort of timeline of events that will happen before Jesus returns. In a sense though, judgement has already started, as we read from John 3:18. The influence of the Holy Spirit in an unsaved person’s life will lead that person to the realisation that he is guilty, that God is just, and that all sinners are deserving of judgment. And we’re so thankful that God has it all in hand.

Dear Father God. Thank You for Holy Spirit, without whom we would be disempowered people. Amen.


Conviction of Righteousness

Posted on by korgrocker

“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.”
John 16:7-11 NLT

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, will come after Jesus has left this world. We know what Jesus promised to believers – Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth ….” (John 14:16-17a). But Holy Spirit also has a mission to unbelievers. Previously we considered the ministry of conviction of sin, and now come to the second part of His ministry, the conviction of righteousness. God’s righteousness is absolute. His standards are far above those of human beings, and human efforts can never attain to them without God’s help.

In human terms, righteousness relies on a set of rules, regulations and morals, which, if kept, lead to a claim of self-righteousness. But if we bring our rules, regulations and morals to God and allow Him to show His spotlight of truth upon them we soon find that, in fact, they do not come anywhere near the standards that God requires. Isaiah wrote, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind” (Isaiah 64:6). We may feel that what we do, or how we behave, falls into the category of righteousness, but Titus 3:4-5 says differently, “But— When God our Saviour revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”

The Pharisees believed that if they completely kept to the Law of Moses then they would become righteous in God’s sight. But Paul wrote otherwise, “For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are” (Romans 3:20). In Matthew 5:20 Jesus said, “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!” I’m sure those religious leaders were quite upset by Jesus’ words.

The Holy Spirit convicts people of their lack of righteousness by pointing them to Jesus. He was, and is, the only Man who has ever been totally righteous. He is God’s only standard of righteousness. He is the only source of truth, and is the only way to Father God.

Dear Lord Jesus. We worship You, the only Source of sinless righteousness. Only You are the way, the truth and the life. Amen.


Conviction of Sin

Posted on by korgrocker

“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.”
John 16:7-11 NLT

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, was hovering in the wings, waiting for the time when Jesus left this world. He told His disciples that it was best for them if He went away, but I can just imagine them wondering about what all this means. You see, we pilgrims today have the benefit of hindsight, but the disciples were heading into, what was to them, unknown territory. They heard what Jesus said, but His words took them well outside their knowledge and comfort zones. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would do something about sin, righteousness and judgement. He would  “convict the world” on all three counts. In a court of law, a convicted person is then sentenced to some form of punishment. But the conviction that comes from the Holy Spirit is the exposure of the truth, showing unbelieving people that they are wrong and God is right.

This world is a sinful place, steeped in evil and wickedness. Sin first entered this world in the Garden of Eden and things have only worsened since. But I have met people who are convinced that they are not sinners because they claim to be “good people”. They say they don’t engage in what they perceive as sinful practices, like drinking excessively or taking drugs or going to places or doing things, they shouldn’t. In fact, they say, they do a lot of good work, befriending people, donating to the poor and charities, working in food banks, and so on. But none of this will mitigate their sin. Paul wrote in Romans 3:23, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard”. Imagine that God’s pass mark, His “glorious standard”, was 100%. We then take a test that assess our sinlessness. And it may be that someone gets 50%. Another might even achieve 60%. Or another person, a bit of a rogue, might only get to 20%. But the results are the same – these three people are all defined as sinners because they didn’t reach the pass mark – 100%. And God has no time for a person’s excuse that he is better than another person – Paul said “everyone has sinned”.

We pilgrims know that we can preach the Gospel with passion and authority, but a sinful person will laugh at us, well, that is, until the Holy Spirit takes over, bringing conviction of sin. The gateway to repentance comes because the Holy Spirit will show a person that his or her lack of belief in God is sin. It is not the responsibility of us pilgrims to get people saved. The Holy Spirit will do that in a much more effective way. We deliver the message. The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin. It may be that we have to persevere with our message, grasping every opportunity to present it, but the listeners have a choice, in the same way that we did before we became believers.

Father God. You have a plan for the salvation of mankind and we are Your willing messengers, sharing the Good News with the unbelieving people around us. Please lead us to the right people. In Jesus name. Amen.