My senior year of high school I took a course in my Christian School called Personal Evangelism. I had been saved for about a year and had a great desire to be a witness for Christ. By the end of the year, I was ready as they say to “charge hell with a squirt gun!” I grabbed my younger sister, Cathy, and we walked down the main street of our small town knocking on every door and asking each person who opened the door if they were a Christian. To my surprise and dismay almost everyone I asked said, “Yes, I”m a Christian.” I remember only one person who replied negatively and turned us completely away.
Cathy and I had walked two miles down one side of Harleyville and two miles back up the other side. I was disappointed. And tired. You see, I was praying I would be able to share the gospel with someone and lead them to Christ. I did not know enough about soul winning to ask someone how they knew they were a Christian or when they came to know Christ as their Savior. What I did know was that I had not been able to share the good news I wanted to share. Because of the “Christian/Church/Religious” status quo of so many, I had not been able to invite anyone to receive Christ.
A few days later, I was standing on a busy street in downtown Orangeburg, SC. I had my New Testament in my purse along with some tracts. I had just come out of a dress shop and spotted a little boy walking by himself down the sidewalk. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, I mustered up all the courage I could, walked up to the young man and asked him if he was a Christian. He replied that he was not. I took the scriptures and presented the gospel, then extended an invitation for him to receive Christ. He gladly prayed and received Christ that day right there on a busy street!! This was the first time I had had the opportunity to take part in sharing the gospel and watching someone receive Christ. It is a sweet, sweet memory for me!!
In the passage surrounding the verse for today, the Father sends His servants to call many to the marriage supper for His Son.
Many refuse the invitation, many continue on with their everyday lives, making light of the call. Some are malicious and spiteful. Some go so far as to kill the servants who are sent by the Father.
Those murderers and those who reject the call bring destruction upon their own lives.
But all is not loss. The Father continues to call.
There will be a marriage supper. Jesus is coming again!!!
Theme Verse:
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” Mark 8:35
“Lose” from the Greek word “Apollymi” means “to destroy fully.” It is translated “destroyed” in Matthew 22:7, our verse for today.
“But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.” Matthew 22:7
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