How should we react to the heart condition of others when we share the gospel message?
If you think back to reading the gospels, not everyone believed the words of Jesus. Some believed in Him while others did not.
The parable of the sower in Matthew 13, Jesus opens our eyes to how people will respond to the gospel message.
Some people will not understand it.
Others will hear it, accept it but never allow it to take root in their hearts. So when this life is not what they thought it would be, they falter.
Still, some will hear it, understand but lose focus along the way because of the distraction around them.
And then, there are those who bear fruit because they take the Word to heart, and apply it to their life.
So what do we as Christians?
We have to remember that not all who hear the Word will believe, but Jesus told His disciple to,
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19:NLT)
Our work is to go. Work where God has called us to work. A lot of times, we get frustrated with people by the way they react to our message. We are to deliver the message in love and grace. How they respond should be left to the Holy Spirit. Remember, it is the Holy Spirit that prompts the heart; it is the person’s responsibility to act upon that prompting. In each of the responses, the person can do something with the message.
The one who does not understand can seek to understand.
The person who has no root can seek help to grow and become solid.
When distractions in life come, seek ways or help to stay focus.
So as we minister to the people around us, remember the responsibility of all involved, but most importantly, your own.
God calls us to go. We go knowing how people could respond to the message, but leave in the hands of the Holy Spirit to move.
“Lord, help me to be bold to share your Word with others. Move their heart to accept you as their Savior. Protect them from the ways of the enemy that will try his best to set them back. In Jesus, name Amen.”
