Bring Them Back: Devotions From Time of Grace MinistrySample

THE CALL TO CARE: WATCH OUT FOR YOURSELF

Here's a crazy feature of the Christian life--as you become more effective in helping other people to come back to the Lord, you become just that much bigger a target to the devil. Even as you become more proficient in understanding and explaining the Scriptures to people, you can succumb to pride, hypocrisy, or mental gymnastics and game playing to justify ignoring what you have told others.

St. Paul knew that he needed to guard his heart: "I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" (1 Corinthians 9:26,27).

Those who are talkers for Jesus must also be listeners for Jesus. Those who are proud to represent him must also humble themselves. Those who speak words of rebuke to those in rebellion should let those same words hit their own hearts. Those who urge others to cling to Jesus should also re-declare their own dependence on his saving mercy.