A note from me to you: I am going to be writing long blog posts, rather than breaking them into two or more short ones, as before. Short writings do not work well for me. So, I will trust you to read a bit and then return to it later, as the Lord leads. So, here we go, with 2025. It is going to be an awesome year in Jesus!
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Two days before New Year’s. I opened my eyes and stretched. In the darkness, I saw a small white shape next to me, then Lily Bugs was standing on my chest. I rubbed her velvety ears, then gently scratched under her chin, feeling the thrumming, silent rumbling that is her purr.
“Well, Lord, You know I do not really want to but I know my desk and all my papers need to be organized, really organized. You know, where I go through each folder or stack of papers on my desk and all the cubbies. Thank You for helping me get so much year-end organizing and planning done already this week.
So, Lord, once again I roll this day’s work upon You. I “commit and trust this day’s work wholly to You. I know You will cause my thoughts to become agreeable to Your will, and thus shall our plans be established and succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3, AMPC, personalized)
Two hours later, after morning devotions and some preliminary work on organizing the desk, I sat down with a second cup of chicory. On a clean sheet of paper, using the post-it notes on which they had been hastily scrawled as the ideas had come to mind, I made an orderly list of my personal spiritual goals for the year. And that felt good.
Two worthy goals. Besides goals concerning worldly things (paying down debt, getting in better shape, etc.) do you have spiritually-focused goals for this year? Have you prayed about what you hope to achieve for the kingdom of God this year? Have you asked God to show you an area where you can grow spiritually?
Two of my spiritual goals are to lead souls to salvation (I am praying about a specific number) and to prepare myself to be better at mutual edification. Let me explain.
GOAL #1. Will there be any stars in my crown? Remember this soul-stirring song written by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt in 1897? It asks the question: When I get to heaven, can I know that I have helped win some souls to Jesus? Here is one stanza.
“In the strength of the Lord let me labor and pray
Let me watch as a winner of souls
That bright stars may be mine in the glorious day
When his praise like the sea billow rolls.”
We must be busy about our Father’s work, just as Jesus was (Luke 2:49). We must not be lazy or idle. In Hebrews 6:11-12 God tells us He wants each of us “. . . to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. “ (NIV, emphasis added)
Am I prepared to labor in the harvest? (Mathew 9:38) If I wish to be a soul winner, I must (1) be prepared and (2) be praying for God to put souls in the path of my daily life.
How do I prepare to be a soul winner? Many books have been written about leading hearts to Jesus. Ask your pastor or mature believers what books they recommend. One book I trust, because I trust the authors (T. L. Osborn and LaDonna Osborn), is Soul Winning: How to Share God’s Love and Life to a World of Despair.
Another excellent book is One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven by Mark Cahill. I have read portions of this book and highly recommend it. Here is the description written on the back of the book:
“Are you ready for eternity? If so, are you helping others get ready for that journey into eternity that each of us must take? As believers, we all know we should tell others about the Lord, but we often don’t know how. This practical book will give you ideas for starting conversations, examples of witnessing situations, and answers to common question. It will help motivate and equip you to reach both friends and strangers for Jesus for the rest of your life.”
A very simple way to lead someone to salvation is the Romans Road. Here is a link to a simple explanation. What is the Romans Road to salvation? | GotQuestions.org If you have these five or so verses of the Romans Road memorized, you will be ready when God puts some hungry soul in the path of your everyday life, at work, the grocery, the gym, or your neighborhood.
Begin memorizing these verses now while you read a good book or some articles about soul winning. Next, practice at home in front of a mirror or with a friend. Then, pray and watch God work.
You will likely not be able to lead someone to salvation every time, but you can be certain that you have planted seed in their heart and you can be certain that God will send another laborer to water that soul. Someday, one of God’s laborers will harvest that soul. The apostle Paul said, “I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.” (I Corinthians 3:6, NLT)
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Be confident as you prepare yourself and pray to win souls. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gave His followers what is known as the Great Commission. Jesus said:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)
Because God clearly tells us to win the lost, we can be sure when we pray for help that God hears us and we shall have the thing we ask of Him (I John 5:14-15).
Jesus does not limit this commission to those whose full-time work is that of a pastor, evangelist or teacher. The Great Commission applies to all of us, no matter our circumstance and situation. But what if you do not like to study or are “slow of speech” like Moses? God made you, and He does not make mistakes. Put your apparent limitation on the altar, try with all your might to obey God and then watch what He does for you.
GOAL #2: Our obligation of mutual edification. Building each other up spiritually is clearly God’s specifically expressed will for every believer. Where does the Bible say that? For starters, study Romans 5:12, and 14:19, Philippians 2:4, Ephesians 4:15-16 and Ephesians 4:29. These verses are for every believer, as is the Great Commission. When we edify each other by “speaking the truth in love” we help each other grow up into Christ (Ephesians 4:15).
So, I ask myself the same two questions about this goal of edifying other believers: (1) Am I prepared to edify fellow believers at every opportunity? And (2) Am I praying for opportunities to do that and keeping my eyes open, being willing to give of my personal time and energy to do that?
How do I prepare to edify fellow believers? Let’s look at Ephesians 4:15-16 a bit closer. These verses are part of a section the NIV calls “Unity in the Body of Christ.” In this passage, Paul is urging the believes at Ephesus to grow up into maturity. Take time now to read Ephesians 4:1-16.
Do you see God’s master plan for building up the Body of Christ? We are to live in loving unity and we are to use the grace God has given us, whatever that may be, so that we may all become mature. To be mature is to be a fully functioning member of the Body of Christ. Then, Christ will cause all of us to “grow and build each other” up in love, as we each do our part. We can be ready in every situation to edify each one whom God puts in our path, inside as well as outside the church.
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Practical tips for how to edify others. As believers, we strive to be doing good at every opportunity, inside and outside the church, and not just when we feel like it. The person siting next to us in Bible study group may desperately need to share a cup of coffee and some one-on-one time with a fellow Christian. They might be desperately hungry for just one hour of true, personal conversation.
That stranger we meet outside the church may be a believer or not, but regardless, that stranger is a person God loves. If we are praying and looking for opportunities, we can speak a quick word of truth to someone standing in line at the grocery or sitting next to us in the doctor’s reception area.
God’s truth benefits anyone who hears it, whether they seem to receive it or not. Our part is to scatter the seed, then pray for God to grow the seed. So, what to do? Pray for help and study to equip yourself with the Word!
Step One: Meditate on verses that you think would be good to share with others. You can start by recalling what God has done in your life. For example, if God has helped you out of deep financial trials, meditate on verses like Philippians 4:19:
“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)
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Use a concordance or the internet and find other verses on the subject. Then, when you encounter someone in financial struggles, you can offer them comfort and encouragement through the Word and through hearing your story of victory through God over similar problems.
If you know a close friend is struggling with a particular temptation, meditate on and memorize I Corinthians 10:13
“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (NLT)
Think about your own story and think about people’s needs in general. God will lead you to the portions of His Word that meets those needs, no matter your level of knowledge. You already know more Scripture than you think. Simply take and use what is already in your mind, just as God told Moses to use what was in his hand (Exodus 4:17.)
And one important note: do not worry about saying the verse word for word. If you cannot memorize it and/or if you cannot remember it, God will still help you speak out the essence of the verse. Trust Him and just try.
Step Two: Practice speaking the Word out loud so that you become accustomed to hearing your own voice saying God’s Words. Then it will feel natural and will sound natural. Remember, though, the Word of God is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). His Word will touch the spirit and soul of that person you are seeking to help. God loves that person far, far more than you can, and nothing is too hard for God (Jeremiah 32:17). God makes the eyes to see and the ears to hear (Proverbs 20:12). Touching the heart is His part. Our part is to speak the Word in love, to be the living channel through which God can touch others.
Usually, there is no need to pause dramatically in the conversation and say, “Now, friend, I am going to share a Bible truth that I think you need.” Think how Jesus talked to people in need. Just talk naturally about what they need and what God has said about that need.
If you are talking with a friend struggling with family troubles, say, “You know, I finally learned that God will keep me in peace during rocky times when I remind myself that God promises to keep me in complete peace if I trust in Him and keep my thoughts fixed on Him. (paraphrase of Isaiah 26:3, NLT)
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Share the light you have. Beloved, you have been given a measure of a vast and limitless treasure, a measure of the light of God’s truth. Countless millions are walking in darkness and desperately need the light you have. Small as it may seem to you, the light you have is a bright path to souls staggering in darkness.
When you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believed in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you were saved (Romans 10:9-10) and Jesus, the Light of the World, took up residence in your heart. Think about that. The God Who made all that is lives inside you. You have all that you need in Him.
In the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus was teaching about salt and light, He said:
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (NLT)
People all around us need to hear God’s wisdom. Will you turn away and leave them blindly groping in the dark, shackled by fear, doubt or some other torment from the enemy? If you saw a little child stumbling about near a deep ditch, would you not stop in your busy life and run to pick that child up? Friend, that is what Jesus has done for each of us. We must do that for others. We must feed His sheep (John 21:15-17).
Helping others we see in need is not an option if we are to walk in right standing with God. I must take to heart the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:37-46.
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” (NLT, emphasis added.)
That “they” in Verse 46 means the unrighteous, those not in right standing with Jesus. Why are they not in right standing? Jesus said “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.” (Verse 45).
Notice that this passage is part of Jesus’ discourse about the end of the age, the time when “the love of most will grow cold”. That is beyond question the times in which we live.
Am I in right standing with God regarding this? Oh, Lord, open my ears and let me take to heart the truth in Verses 45 and 46! God says we are not in right standing with Him, if we refuse to help those in need.
I have usually heard this passage taught as concerning doing physical acts of service but the principal also, I believe, concerns sharing the Word of life, just as we would share a cup of water or food or clothing.
When we reach out to others with God’s love—be that His Word or some tangible physical way—we let God Himself flow through us. He can use us to touch fellow believers, those who are lost, and all with whom we come in contact.
Further, there is another general Biblical principle that I believe applies here:
“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. 28 If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you. (Proverbs 3:27-28, NLT)
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We must be ready for the great harvest that has already begun! Friend and fellow pilgrim, we must pray, equip ourselves and then be looking for ways to let God do good through us, to win the lost and to edify our brothers and sisters in Christ, in church and out in the world.
What a privilege! What a sacred responsibility! And oh, oh, oh! What a light He sheds on our way!
“When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
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- Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
- Refrain:
(“Trust and Obey”, by John H. Sammis, 1887)
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