(This is the first of three parts on our role in spreading the Gospel message.)

We sometimes think that reaching others for Christ is a competitive numbers game (in our flesh we do), where our side of the responsibility, now that Jesus died for the sins of the world, is to notch beaucoup saved souls for Jesus. 

“Jeepers! I’ve only ever helped lead one person to Christ. I know people who have led dozens, hundreds even. What is wrong with me?” We routinely say things like this (not counting the “jeepers” part), as if there will be a ranking of merit in Heaven based on how many people we influenced to turn to Christ. I wouldn’t know about that, but I do think we are often shortsighted in our view on at least two counts: 1) God does the harvesting. We are the privileged instruments who get to sow seeds (see the Parable of the Sower; Mt 13:1-23); and 2) It is reasonable to expect that you, in your “I only helped lead one person to Christ” life, might be the only person God intends to use to reach Uncle Jim, or neighbor Bob as the case may be—in and through God’s power of course. 

So maybe the great evangelist to whom we are comparing ourselves led thousands of souls Christ-ward. Praise God if he did. But maybe this evangelist could never have been able to reach fill in the name God puts on your heart here. Maybe it was you alone whom God designed for this purpose. Maybe your singular evangelical mission was/is to reach this single God-seeking soul who will get to enjoy eternity forever. One saved human soul who lives forever is clearly worth the mission of your whole beautiful earthly life, when you think about it. Notch that.

The Body of Christ is one family comprised of differing skillsets and varying God-ordained opportunities, presently sowing in a place and time such as this. Or as country and gospel singer Ed Bruce warmly puts it:

“The family’s growin’;
it’s gettin’ bigger every day.
I get a brand new brother or sister
when anyone calls on Jesus’ name.
By the time I get to Heaven,
the place’ll be overflowin’.
I can hardly wait to meet ’em all.
The family’s growin’.” 

Which is what matters in the end.

I hope this encourages you to sow seeds today.

Kevin Murray
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