DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT MONDAY - A HEART STARTER. #1

Heart is used in Scripture as the most comprehensive term for the authentic person. It is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. It has been described as "the place of conscious and decisive spiritual activity," "the comprehensive term for a person as a whole; his feelings, desires, passions, thought, understanding and will," and "the center of a person. The place to which God turns." - J. Stowell.

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. - 2Cor 4:1.

Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them. - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Mondays can be very difficult, especially after a lovely weekend, where we managed to spend some quality time with our families and friends, fixing up all those little tasks that needed our attention, maybe even a Saturday night out with the wife in a lovely restaurant, and then worshipping with God’s family on Sunday, and suddenly, it’s back to the grind.

I thought by way of encouragement, that we could have a ‘Heart Starter’ from the word of God, rather than six cups of coffee! Paul is stating in our text that every one of us has a ministry, and this particular one by the mercy of God!

God could have sent angels to make known the glorious doctrine of the gospel, or could have sent the most admired sons of men to teach the nations, but he chose humbler, weaker vessels, that his power might be more glorified in upholding them, and in the blessed change wrought by their ministry. - Matthew Henry.

Wow! What a responsibility we have as sons and daughters of God, to communicate the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thankfully we have the power of the Holy Spirit to help us achieve this, especially with such an opportune time as Christmas. Personally, I find that this time of the year, presents the most fertile season to bring in a harvest…

Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. - John 4:35.

If to be a Christian is worthwhile, then the most ordinary interest in those with whom we come in contact would prompt us to speak to them of Christ. If the New Testament be true--and we know that it is--who has given us the right to place the responsibility for soul-winning on other shoulders than our own?

If they who reject Christ are in danger, is it not strange that we, who are so sympathetic when the difficulties are physical or temporal, should apparently be so devoid of interest as to allow our friends and neighbors and kindred to come into our lives and pass out again without a word of invitation to accept Christ, to say nothing of sounding a note of warning because of their peril?

If today is the day of salvation, if tomorrow may never come and if life is equally uncertain, how can we eat, drink and be merry when those who live with us, work with us, walk with us and love us are unprepared for eternity because they are unprepared for time?

If Jesus called his disciples to be fishers of men, who gave us the right to be satisfied with making fishing tackle or pointing the way to the fishing banks instead of going ourselves to cast out the net until it be filled?

If Jesus himself went seeking the lost, if Paul the Apostle was in agony because his kinsmen, according to the flesh, knew not Christ, why should we not consider it worthwhile to go out after the lost until they are found?

If I am to stand at the judgment seat of Christ to render an account for the deeds done in the Body, what shall I say to him if my children are missing, if my friends are not saved or if my employer or employee should miss the way because I have been faithless?

If I wish to be approved at the last, then let me remember that no intellectual superiority, no eloquence in preaching, no absorption in business, no shrinking temperament or no spirit of timidity can take the place of or be an excuse for my not making an honest, sincere, prayerful effort to win others to Christ. - J. Wilbur Chapman.

What a ‘heart starter’ for a Monday, straight into it! Let’s not lose heart, but in the power of the Holy Spirit, be courageous for Him! There is a reason for the season, it’s the birthday of Jesus Christ, let’s tell everyone we come into contact with, about His eternal life that He offers, to anyone who would believe in Him! Make someone’s Christmas the best one ever!

Loving Father, I thank you for the beautiful weekend that I had. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, in this Christmas season. Use me Lord, to bring someone into your Kingdom, and make it their best Christmas ever!

Be encouraged!
GBYAY