We all know the high priestly prayer of Jesus to His heavenly Father, but do we consider the things which Jesus is speaking to God for our good? He sought out our good for our effectiveness with the gospel!
"If Jesus has power over all flesh, is it credible that He will not use it to the uttermost? In reply, we shall not seek to evade the question, by resolving the power claimed into a mere mediatorial sovereignty over the whole solely for the sake of a part, because we know that the elect part is chosen not merely for its own sake, but also for the sake of the whole, to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and the leaven to leaven the corrupt mass. We simply observe that the power of the Saviour is not compulsory. Men are not saved by force as machines, but by love and grace as free beings; and there are many whom brooding love would gather under its wings who prefer remaining outside to their own destruction." A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve, pp. 452.
Did you get that? What Bruce is saying is that Jesus teaching, spending time, His love, are all to passed down to the ones whom He wants to send into the world to do His work! He wants to use us to the "uttermost!" We are saved by His love, not as machines are designed to one work and that's it. We are saved by love and grace. This love and grace compels us to take the gospel out and share it out of our love for our Saviour. But Jesus does understand that there will be those who never do so... those who would leave it as Bruce says to, "many whom brooding love would gather under its wings who prefer remaining outside to their own destruction."
This last week I met a very special man of God in Nuremberg, Germany named Andy. It was through the divine providence of God we met. As the causal conversation in my horrible German started, he began speaking English to lighten the burden of communication. He told me throughout the conversation that he was a reasonably new Christian. He asked if we could spend some time talking after we (my wife and I) completed our castle tour, during his lunch hour. After the tour we met on a park bench on the grounds. He explained his burden for Nuremberg Germany's salvation; his hometown. His passion to see souls saved was unbelievable! But there was a problem. As he was a newer Christian, older so called "Christians" (that's being kind) told him he was too crazy about his desire and that it would soon go away... Go Away? My wife and I tried to encourage him to never let anyone pour cold water on his burning faith over the next half hour. You see, some are doing just as Bruce said; "many whom brooding love would gather under its wings who prefer remaining outside to their own destruction..."
As I look back at last week, I have to ask myself this same question, "Will I hold this thing called Christianity each day to myself or will I go and share it?" I don't want to be average in society today. As I see my country here also in spiritual decline, I too see the need for America become the "One Nation Under God" again. Even in the political arena, we see where in the past Christians had an impact on our country's direction. One speaker I heard said that our impact is less than 10% of the country's whole. This folks is our duty... if we say that we love Jesus.
"It is as if Jesus said: Father, thou knowest that eternal life consists in knowing Thee and me. Looks around, then, and see how few possess such knowledge. The heathen world knoweth Thee not- it worships idols: the Jewish world is equally ignorant of Thee in spirit and in truth; for, while boasting of knowing Thee, it rejects me. The whole world is overspread with a dark veil of ignorance and superstition." Bruce, pp.453.
We have a very important duty, but never let it be clouded by a sense of "duty by works," than "duty for the One I love and want to tell others about." Stay close to your Saviour and He will send those into your path which He has called to salvation; and I'm pretty sure this includes the whole world!
