Be a Blessing, Reach the World for ChristSample

God’s people still have to be a blessing in these New Testament days

In the last few lessons, we have read that Abraham and his descendants, the Israelites, were promised and commissioned to be a blessing to those around them. Now, was that only in the Old Testament or do we find this principle in the New Testament as well? We will read a few texts from the New Testament today.

In the Christmas story that tells of the birth of Jesus, two narratives are very familiar: the story of the shepherds and the story of the wise men from the east. Isn't it extraordinary that besides the very poor in society, pagans, magi, are also invited to celebrate that the Saviour came to the earth? Jesus shows who received His birth announcement first: the poor and those who do not yet know God. They were warmly invited.

After these chapters, we immediately read about the calling of the first disciples: "Come and follow me", followed by "...and I will make you fishers of men." So the disciples are called to follow Jesus and as a consequence they will become fishers of men. To further emphasize this point, in the first teaching they hear from Jesus, He says: "You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world". Following Jesus means to be the light to the world and the ‘seasoning’ of society. So here too we see the principle that those whom God calls must be a blessing to others. In this light, then, we must also see Jesus' final command. "Go therefore, teach all the nations". Everyone who follows Him and is blessed by Him must in turn be a blessing to others.

Today many people have already heard the Good News, but there is still a huge group of more than 3 billion people who have never been introduced to the message of salvation through Jesus. Many of these people are found in the so-called 10/40 window, the countries between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude on the globe. Countries like India, for example.

Pray for India, where more than 80% of the people are Hindu and where more than 95% are still completely unreached with the Gospel.