Have you ever met someone who is obviously not sorry for his sin? Whether he minimises it as “a small sin” or dismisses it as “a foolish act of yesteryear,” he resolutely claims forgiveness, but reluctantly claims guilt.
Though unlikely to admit it, none of us is really above such attitudes. Even seemingly trivial episodes of bitterness and jealousy can speak of sins left half-heartedly repented of. Search your heart.
Our desire to win souls is a desire to bring the lost into the love of Christ. In this we are going to struggle if we are weighed down with any sort of ‘baggage;’ especially past sins urged to the surface by the flesh.
Paul calls for self-control and focuses: “But I discipline my body, he says, “and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1Cor.9:27).
You can find good books emphasising “Evangelism Dos and Don’ts” that help you to avoid Satan’s traps, but what really matters is that Jesus remains your first love.
The Ephesian church was strong on doctrine, good works, and purifying the church of false teachers, but weak on love—they walked away from Christ as their first love (Revelation 2:1-7).
Christ’s definition of love is: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). When this definition ceases to be our motivation to love, we can expect that we too will emphasise being strong on doctrine, good works, and purifying the church of false teachers.
The tragic irony is that the people we are likely to attract are those who are “devoted to legalism,” but “devoid of love.”
“We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
That is that which really matters!
John Staiger
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