Message
In today's Bible reading, Jesus said that He appointed His disciples to bear fruit and that their fruit should remain. The word 'fruit' here means souls. Jesus has made it clear that only those who obey His commands are His friends, and whatever they ask of His Father in His name, He will give them. Those who are closest to me are soul winners because I know soul winning is paramount in the heart of God. I am determined to keep winning souls until I die. Even if there are no opportunities, I will create them so I can tell others about Jesus.
Someone once said that it wasn't recorded that Jesus celebrated His birthdays and then criticised me for celebrating my birthday. I appreciated him and told him that God uses my birthday celebrations to win more souls into His kingdom. God has chosen us to bear fruits that abide in His kingdom; we must use every avenue we have to pursue this.
It is sad that many people don't take evangelism seriously. Jesus commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, as we see in today's memory verse. He didn't ask us to go only where we are accepted or where things are easy; He asked us to go into all the world, whether things are rosy or not. When God gives us an assignment to go, we must go.
In Acts 16:6-40, Paul had a vision where he saw a man beckoning him to come to Macedonia to help them. Before this time, He had made some attempts to preach the gospel in some cities in Asia, but the Holy Spirit forbade him. One would think that because God asked him to go to Macedonia, there would be no opposition or trouble. However, shortly after Paul and Silas got there, they were beaten and imprisoned. Yet, this didn't stop them from preaching the gospel. People who are not ready to face hardships will not go far in obeying Jesus' commandment to go into all the world to preach the gospel.
Beloved, sometimes, as you preach the gospel, people will reject or mock you. However, be of good cheer whenever that happens. Jesus said that anyone who suffers persecution for His sake will have a bountiful reward (Matthew 5:11-12). Keep preaching the gospel at all times, whether it is convenient or not, and you will continue to shine as a star forever (Daniel 12:3).