25/11/2022 - USELESS EFFORT

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Those who dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall be revived like grain, and grow like a vine. Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon. Hosea 14.7

If Samaria had returned to the Almighty, its inhabitants would have remained and the surrounding kingdoms would have sought the Lord. After all, for this the sons of Jacob were led into God’s special Kingdom. They would serve as examples to the lost everywhere, and the Spirit of the Most High would convict them of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16.8). Millions of people have been lost because of this small but no less important detail. Love God and His work!

Many nations would sit in the shadow of the Israelites, in order to learn of the one God and Lord of Heaven and Earth. However, since God’s people were lost, these kingdoms also followed the path of perdition to the end. How sad! We cannot let this happen through our own fault. We must fight in every way approved by Scripture. The fault of any life that is lost will be on those who are negligent in carrying out their duty (Ezekiel 33.7,8).

God wants to do the same with Christ’s Church, which is us (2 Corinthians 2.15). He has revealed Himself to us in order to make us witnesses before all people. However, sadly, we have not done our part in the process of saving the lost, and this is very serious. The Lord will not hold as innocent the one who turns away from the Truth. He has given us His Holy Spirit in order to convict us whenever we have listened to a deceiving spirit. Be vigilant!

As we are enlightened by the Most High, the lost sit under the shadow that arises when the Sun of Righteousness reflects His glory through us and through the lives of those we bring to Christ. The Lord is pleased when we let His brightness and His glory shine on us, but He is sad if we become enamored with the world: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Mark 14.38).

Those who are dead in trespasses, as we once were, will be made alive and raised by the power of the Savior (Ephesians 2.1-10). We were not saved by our own merit, but by the Father’s love for humanity. We are the joy of the Lord, and so we have to be watchful where we walk and what we talk about. Christians cannot be a stumbling block to anyone, because they have already tasted God’s love and deliverance from the kingdom of hell (Luke 17.1,2).

Those who are spiritually dead today, tomorrow may be quickened and become a blessing as God desires. Those who give themselves over to iniquity, doing the will of the flesh and of the devil, will be responsible for those who are eternally lost. We must watch and pray that this never happens. Be salt so that people who deteriorate in error can be transformed by the Lord’s power (Matthew 5.13).

The wicked are heading for the lake of fire and brimstone, and what have we done to prevent such damnation? However, they will flourish like the vine, if we bring them to the true Vine (John 15.1). God’s love will do that for them. The memory of the one who snatches many from the eternal fire will never be forgotten, but rather remembered like the wine of Lebanon (Jude 20-23). Be a faithful servant!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares