Spirit Of Fire By Tamryn KlintworthSample

Share the Good News 

One has to wonder what Paul meant by something “lacking in the afflictions of Christ”. How indeed could the total sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God fall short in any way? Surely His offering was entirely sufficient, securing the promise of redemption for all mankind. If so, what was lacking? Quite simply, this: the communication of what His sufferings achieved.

In short, while our Lord did remain on Earth for several days before ascending to Heaven, the main task of spreading the good news of salvation was left to His followers. This assignment has been passed on from generation to generation, and rests at present in your hands and mine (see Mark 16:15, Romans 10:13–14 and 1 Peter 4:13). 

If we do not proclaim the Gospel, our Lord bled and died for nothing. How desperately He needs us, and how much He must trust us to allocate this duty into our keeping!

If we fail, the salvation plan fails. People do not go to hell because Jesus did not die for them. He died for all of us (see John 3:16). Rather, people go to hell because they have not accepted His sacrifice. 

And how will they accept it if they do not know about it? As believers, we should constantly be filling up in the flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ. With our mouths, we should be sharing the wonders of His love. With our hands, we should be praying for healing and deliverance (see Psalm 34:17 and Psalm 107:6, 20). Our Jesus saves, our Jesus sets the captives free—and we should not keep silent!