SHE INVITED

This is a “true story” of a four-year-old girl. Each Sunday morning and Wednesday night a little girl named Becky would skip out of her front door and over to the next door with a tender knock. Becky’s question was simply, “Can Denise come to church with us today?” Most of the time the answer was, “Yes.” The invitations continued. The visits continued. One day something was different. Becky made her Sunday morning journey next door, but the answer was, “No.” However, the words that followed were music to her ears. “No,” the father answered, “Denise will be going with us this morning. We will see you at worship, Miss Becky.” The family visited, studies followed, and Denise’s mother and father were baptized into Christ. What is the magic, the mystery, the awe? There is none! Just an invitation given over and over! Some things we make too hard. Some of the easiest things in life we conjure up into difficult messes. Some want sophisticated mail-outs to do it for us. Some believe that carefully designed programs will do it for us. Some want others to do it for us. Some sadly enough, don't care. Please understand: the benefits of mail-out programs, and other avenues are wonderful when used wisely. But nothing dismisses our personal responsibility to invite folks. Who? My neighbor, postman, doctor, mechanic, coach, teacher, friend, parent, child, uncle, aunt, co-worker, partner, boss, banker, on and on. Jesus freed the man who had legions of evil spirits. He was changed and grateful and wanted to go with Jesus. Jesus refused to let him go, saying, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and has had compassion on you (Mark 5:19).

SOS

The first ship to transmit an SOS distress call appears to have been the Cunard Liner, Slayonia on June 10, 1909. Although not the earliest to use the SOS, the Titanic is probably the most famous. In any case, this signal was not to be used except in the case of a dire emergency. The letters SOS are not an acronym. In other words, the individual letters don’t stand for anything. Although many have used it to mean “save our ship” or “save our souls.” The main idea is that it is a call of distress, an urgent plea for help or salvation. It denotes a circumstance that is beyond the power of those using the SOS to solve their own problems.

SOULS

When it comes to the mission of the church in seeking and saving the lost, we need to move with the SOS attitude. A long time ago Jeremiah the prophet wrote, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jer.8:20). Surely there is someone you can invite to the assembly or perhaps you can talk with about matters that the Bible teaches about salvation. Pray that the Lord will help us to save some (1 Cor. 9:22).

"FAITH FEELING”

In the church at Corinth it seems that the assembly of worship was made up of different types of people. First Corinthians 14:23 refers to the uninformed and unbelievers. In the church gathering, there are many things that take place. There is fellowship. There is exhortation and encouragement. There is information given. There is a “faith feeling” that something good is taking place. If at all possible, you never want to miss a single time. Come with a smile on your face and a spring in your step and a Bible in your hand. I’ll look for you in your place.