September 14 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

In any church or sect where belief in the coming judgment is strong, members are bold in evangelism. At opportune times and at inopportune moments, they urge people to "accept Jesus Christ" as the only way of escape from the coming judgment.

When we know that the fires of God are coming, we have little time to waste. If we are convinced that God's wrath will be poured out, and if we have any compassion in our souls, we will live and talk as God's ambassadors.

Of course we don't go around telling people that God is about to burn them. But at opportune times we will discuss the alienation suffered by people who do not believe in God and are still outside the Christian fellowship. Within our own congregation, we will try hard to exercise this kind of Christian fellowship. And toward those outside of the church, we may engage in what is called "pre-evangelism"—not a direct approach, but a witness with a soft voice, soft drinks, coffee, and doughnuts.

There isn't any one sure method for approaching those who do not know Jesus Christ. The method depends on time, place, opportunity, people, and other variables. Neither does evangelism consist of talk only. It is much more.

The point is that if we really believe that God's wrath will be poured out on all who obstruct the freedom march of the kingdom, most of us should be much more urgent in our behavior than we are now.

The God of peace is also the God of fire. The Lord who loves us and our children is also the God of the tenth plague.

When God recalled his ambassador Moses from the peace talks with Pharaoh, only judgment was left. As long as Christ's ambassadors for peace are talking with today's Pharaohs, the day of grace endures.

But it won't last forever.

REFLECTIONS

Why are we often so timid in our efforts to call people to believe in God?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.