December 7

Morning

He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, — 1 Cor 1:28 BSB

Walk the streets by moonlight, if you dare, and you will see sinners. Watch when the night is dark, the wind is howling, and you hear the picklock scraping at the door—there you will find sinners. Visit the local jail, walk through the wards, and look at the men with heavy brows, men you wouldn’t want to meet at night—there are sinners. Go to the reformatories, where those who displayed juvenile lawlessness are kept—sinners are there. Travel across the seas to a place where men gnaw on bones of human flesh—there, too, you will find sinners. Go anywhere—you don’t need to search far to find sinners. They are in every lane, every street, in every city, town, village, and hamlet.

It is for such people that Jesus died. If you show me the vilest person alive, as long as he is born of woman, I will still have hope for him—because Jesus Christ came to seek and to save sinners. God’s electing love has chosen some of the worst to become the best. His grace transforms stones from the brook into jewels for His royal crown. He turns worthless dross into pure gold. Redeeming love has set aside many of the worst of humanity as the reward for the Savior’s suffering. Effectual grace calls the vilest to come and sit at the table of mercy! So, let no one despair.

Reader, by that love that shines from Jesus’ tear-filled eyes, by the love that flows from His bleeding wounds, by that faithful, strong, pure, unselfish, and abiding love, by the heart and compassion of our Savior, we implore you not to turn away as though this were nothing to you. Believe in Him, and you will be saved. Trust your soul to Him, and He will bring you to His Father’s right hand in eternal glory!

Evening

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. — 1 Cor 9:22 BSB

Paul’s ultimate goal was not just to instruct or improve people, but to save them. Anything short of this would have left him unsatisfied. He wanted people to be transformed in heart, forgiven, sanctified, and saved. Have we, in our Christian efforts, aimed for anything less than this? If so, let us correct our ways. For what good will it do on the last great day if we have taught and moralized people, yet they stand before God unsaved? Our hands will be stained with blood if, throughout our lives, we have pursued lesser goals and forgotten that people need salvation.

Paul knew the devastating state of humanity’s sinful condition and didn’t just seek to educate people—he sought to save them! He saw people sinking into hell and didn’t talk about refining their behavior but about saving them from the coming wrath. To achieve their salvation, he gave himself tirelessly to spreading the gospel, warning and pleading with people to be reconciled to God. His prayers were fervent, and his efforts were unrelenting. Saving souls was his passion, his calling, and his sole ambition. He became a servant to all, working for the salvation of others. He felt the weight of responsibility, knowing that he would be cursed if he did not preach the gospel. He set aside his preferences, avoided causing offense, and if people would only accept the gospel, he made no issue of forms or ceremonies. The gospel was his one priority. If by any means he might save some, he would be content. This was the crown for which he strived, the one reward that made all his efforts and sacrifices worthwhile.

Dear reader, have we lived with the same goal of winning souls? Are we driven by that all-consuming desire? If not, why not? Jesus died for sinners—can we not live for them? Where is our tenderness? Where is our love for Christ if we do not seek His honor through the salvation of others? Oh, that the Lord would fill us with an unquenchable zeal for the souls of men!