GOSPEL RESPONSIBILITIES

When there seems to be so little fruit from our gospel efforts, it is easy to become “fatalistic”, and have the approach that because nothing happened last week in the Gospel Service, or when we gave out invitations, nothing will happen this week either. It is easy to get discouraged but this is the period in history in which the Lord has called us to serve.

The Bible would emphasise two things that are important for success in the Gospel. Firstly, the responsibility of us as individuals, and secondly, the movement of the power of God. Our responsibility is to “preach the word” (2 Tim 4:2), but we cannot control the response. The farmer has the responsibility to sow the seed, but he cannot ensure a good harvest, no matter how much preparation he makes. We must remember that people by nature are spiritually blind and deaf—they need God’s miraculous intervention in their lives.

Paul explains it when he said, “My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow” (1 Cor. 3:6). We are responsible for the sowing, but God is responsible for the growing.

God could have asked angels to preach the Gospel but they wouldn't have been able from personal experience to tell of a Saviour who loved and gave Himself for  them. We can! May we be faithful.