Today on Easter Sunday right across the world the gospel message of the power of Jesus Christ, that he died and rose again, will be told from under trees to major Cathedrals.
For some who will hear it then it will lead to life but for others it won’t. The gospel message is a huge responsibility. It is literally life and death.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.” (2 Corinthians 2 v 14-17)
Who is competent? Who is equal to such a task?
Someone has to preach Christ, but who can?
- No one is worthy or qualified to speak of this overwhelming act of God, the death and resurrection of Christ. We don’t speak from any level of status that we have earned or achieved.
- So the effectiveness of the gospel message that will be preached today does not come from some skilful orator or strategic communication.
- The task of representing Christ and the Easter story is beyond our ability.
- Therefore the results are not with us or because of us, they belong to God.
- So the preaching that is done today needs to happen when we are not in the way:-
- We are not watering the gospel down for some kind of gain or acceptance (peddling)
- We remember that the words we speak are done before God who knows the sincerity and transparency of our heart.
- We acknowledge that no one calls us to speak the gospel except God. It is He who sends us all out with the gospel. It is all about Him.
Missions Paul 