Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “Thoroughly Equipped”
Week 2 of 4: “Grace that Saves Us!”
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: Jesus’ Teaching on his 2nd Coming!
I didn’t know.
How much of the world’s population has not heard about Jesus as Savior?
-
- 2% b) 22% c) 42% d) 52%
Based on an estimate by the JoshuaProject.net, about 42% of the world’s population live in people groups unreached by the Gospel message. Here is a link to a map where many of those people live…look at the red dots. https://joshuaproject.net/assets/media/maps/progress-scale-map-plain.pdf
This article is interesting about the topic: https://joshuaproject.net/resources/articles/has_everyone_heard.
The unreached people groups represent almost 3.3 Billion (with a ‘B’!) souls.
I didn’t know.
That being said, I didn’t know what a profound promise Jesus makes when he says:
Matthew 24:14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
I don’t know how God has planned to do this. I do know Jesus chose you and me to be part of his plan to bring his Gospel to the souls of people. We are a) beneficiaries of his promise – we have received the Gospel, and b) partners in the fulfilling of his promise—we are preachers of the Gospel.
Jesus spoke to his 11 followers when he went back into heaven:
Matthew 28:18-20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus is serious about wanting all people to hear the Gospel message. He knows better than anyone it alone is the power of God for the salvation of souls.
Paul reasoned:
Romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
… 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Jesus’ words aren’t a “scorecard” to tick off the remaining people groups to hear the Gospel. It is a promise that the Gospel will be preached in the whole world as a witness/testimony to all nations. Jesus’ words are a wonderful promise and call to each of us to be preachers…heralds of the good news that our sins are fully forgiven in Jesus Christ.
Ironically if you look at that pdf map referenced above, it’s not like the United States is dark green (significantly reached with the Gospel). This means there are people in our communities, work places and schools that need Jesus. Preach the Gospel where God has planted you!
Apply: Ask God to identify one or two people with whom he wants you to share the Gospel. How can you be involved in the effort to bring Jesus to people groups who don’t know him? Want some inspiration? Here’s a link to stories from around our country and world of the Gospel reaching the nations of the world! https://welstasteandsee.com/presentations/moments-with-missionaries/
Prayer: Lord, use me to preach the Gospel to the people around me. AMEN.