How can we apply the urgency of sharing God's word in our lives? Setting the Scene: A Moment Charged with Urgency Jeremiah 36:14 records a sudden summons: “ Then all the officials sent Jehudi… to say to Baruch, ‘Bring the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people and come here.’ ” • The officials sense the gravity of God’s message. • Delay is unthinkable; the scroll must be heard immediately. • Judgment is imminent, yet mercy is still offered if the people will heed. Why the Scroll Couldn’t Wait • God’s warnings are acts of love; postponing them endangers souls (Jeremiah 36:3). • Sin’s consequences advance while we hesitate (Romans 6:23). • Hearts harden quickly (Hebrews 3:13). • Every moment carries eternal weight (2 Corinthians 6:2). Our Commission Mirrors Baruch’s • “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.” (2 Timothy 4:2) • “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16) • Like Baruch, believers are scribes of God’s living Word, entrusted to deliver it exactly as received (Revelation 22:18–19). Practical Ways to Live the Urgency Cultivate the burden • Ask the Lord to deepen love for the lost (Matthew 9:36). • Meditate daily on eternity—heaven and hell realities (Luke 16:19-31). Stay prayed-up • Pray for open doors and clarity (Colossians 4:3-4). • Keep a short list of names to intercede for every day. Be prepared • Memorize key salvation verses: John 3:16, Romans 3:23, 6:23, 10:9-10. • Write a two-minute testimony that highlights Christ’s work in your life. Speak the Word naturally • Weave Scripture into ordinary conversation. • Use questions like “May I share what has helped me?” to transition. Leverage every platform • Share verses on social media with personal commentary. • Offer Bibles or tracts; leave one with a tip at a restaurant. • Text an encouraging passage to someone facing trials. Live what you share • Consistent integrity validates the message (Philippians 2:15-16). • Quick repentance when you fail shows the gospel’s transforming power. Refuse procrastination • Determine to speak when prompted by the Spirit—today, not later (James 4:17). Guarding the Integrity of the Message • Proclaim the full counsel—grace and truth (Acts 20:27). • Resist watering down hard truths; love tells the whole story (Ezekiel 33:7-9). • Rely on Scripture’s sufficiency; personal opinion never saves (Isaiah 55:11). Encouragement from Other Voices • Romans 10:14-15—people cannot believe without a messenger. • Matthew 24:14—the gospel will be preached in the whole world, and we get to participate. • Proverbs 24:11—rescue those being led away to death. Heaven keeps time differently from earth, but eternity will reveal the value of every urgent step we take with God’s Word in hand. |
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