I remember like it was yesterday. I was a freshman in college. We were having a campus revival, and I had agreed to wear a fishhook as a sign that I’d be willing to share Jesus with others. I sat down in my class and a classmate asked, “What’s up with the fishhook?” I mumbled my way through some excuse and said, “You wouldn’t be interested.” I sat there ashamed of my fear and failure. The professor came in, “Mr. Baldauff, why are you wearing a fishhook today”? A chance for redemption! I sheepishly replied, “It means I’m a fisher of men.” “Hmm.” I took my fishhook off as I left the class feeling like a soldier who had had his stripes removed.
I think it is fear of failures like this or our faulty assumptions that people wouldn’t be interested in what we must share that keeps most of us from sharing our faith. We don’t want to offend or be rejected, so we self-consciously stumble through life afraid to speak a word.
Jesus strongly rejects our wimpy logic. Jesus understood that He was in a war for people’s souls. He wanted His followers to understand the road to sacrifice that we must travel if we are going to make a difference in this world. In a parable about the need for reaching out to others, Jesus says, Luke 14:23 (CSB) 23 “Then the master (Jesus) told the servant (us), ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled.”
The word make means, “compel, force, make one do something” in the Greek. It is the idea of forcing someone to do something. I know we can’t force someone to get saved, but I also know Jesus didn’t expect us to crawl around like beaten dogs while people are dying and going to hell.
We have radically changed the way we live our lives (at who knows what expense?) during our current crisis to try and save a small percentage of people that Covid-19 might kill. Why? Because every single life matters.
What if we were as zealous in our proclamation of the gospel? Every single individual infected with sin has a zero chance of survival. But God has given us the cure: Jesus. What if we didn’t give up after a time or two but persistently pushed through the rejections for the very noble reason that every single life matters? What if we were willing to suffer so that those destined to die might live? What if we took Jesus seriously when He said, John 3:18 (CSB) “Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.”
I think it’s time to dust off our fishhooks.
Announcements:
Join us for Wednesday Night.
Look at your Zoom schedule or call the office for the correct link for you!
SUNDAY SCHOOL, WEDNESDAY NIGHT ZOOM SCHEDULES!
Our I.T. team has made some corrections to the Zoom Schedule that was sent out last week. Look for the new schedule that Amy sent out yesterday to know how to connect for Sunday School and our Wednesday night events.
Thanks for your continued provision of food to help feed Piner Elementary families during this time. Bring your items to the church by Wednesday, so that they can be delivered by Friday. Jody has requested the following items: Canned Soup and Fruit, Spaghetti and Sauce, Mac & Cheese, Boxed Cereal, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Crackers. But any items are appropriate. We are helping the families of the same 25 children who were involved in the food for thought program.
I want to include our children in this project of helping needy families. Have them make cards that we can include in these bags of groceries, just to let them know that Piner Baptist is praying for them.
Passion Week Services
We will be having special virtual services starting Sunday Night to celebrate the last week of Jesus’ life; join us for this special time of celebrating Jesus’ redemption story!
Sunday, April 5 at 6:00 p.m. – Bro Bill Evans
Monday, April 6 at 7:00 p.m. – Bro. David Wiggins
Tuesday, April 7 at 7:00 p.m. – Brandon Caudill
Wednesday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m. – Tyler Whitmer
Thursday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. – Maundy Thursday Lord’s Supper
EASTER SUNDAY
Sunday, April 12
Sonrise Service 7:30 a.m.
Sunday School 8:45 a.m.
EASTER Worship 10:00 a.m.