Do you know what sells well ?

Wednesday February 23, 2022

Do you know what sells well ?

“Another Jesus... another Spirit... another Gospel...” 2 Corinthians 11. 4

In an old Peanuts comic strip, children are seen on back-to-school day writing a back-to-school-themed essay. Lucy writes these lines : “Holidays are good, but going back to school is even better. Nothing is more satisfying, more motivating than education, and I look forward to increasing my knowledge throughout the new year.” The teacher is over the moon and pays many compliments to Lucy. In the last drawing, however, Lucy is seen leaning over to her neighbor, Charlie Brown, to whisper to him : “After a while, you get to know what sells well !” The temptation to preach what “sells well” is constantly before us. Paul warns the church in Corinth to beware of anyone preaching to them “a different Jesus... a different Spirit... or a different Gospel.” Like Jonah, we are called to preach to people who would rather hear something totally different. Even though Jonah went in the opposite direction of Nineveh, he wasted his time believing that he could escape God's will. And the same thing could happen to us ! “The Eternal caused a mighty wind to blow on the sea, and there arose a storm on the sea so great that the boat threatened to sink" (Jonah 1. 4). If necessary, God does not will not hesitate to break our plans to force us to go where He needs us, and to announce what He wants us to announce. A pastor once admitted that his message certainly drew large crowds, but did not making disciples of Christ, so he decided it was time to change tack. The first thing God commanded Jonah to say upon arriving in Nineveh was a simple : "Repent !" The Gospel works on two levels : it comforts the afflicted while castigating those who are comfortable in their little comforts.The truth that sets us free, before it comforts us, must first chasten and discipline us. God does not seek our comfort ; He wants above all to produce in us a character identical to that of Christ, so that the world will be drawn to Him.

Source (His Word for Today)