Scripture:
Romans 10:13-14; Matthew 13:20-23
Tue, 20 September 2022

How Can They Hear?

Observation:

Why are preaching and hearing the Gospel so critical in missions?

Deeper Reflection
JOHN CALVIN ONCE SAID, “WHERE THE WORD IS NOT preached and heard, there is no church”28. One of the goals in missions is planting churches in places with little Christian presence. According to estimates, almost one third of the world has no access or opportunity to hear the Gospel.29 That is almost one billion individuals who have not heard about the love of Jesus Christ!What distinguishes Christian missions from secular NGOs and nonprofits is the goal of preaching the Word of God to the unreached. Although God does indeed reveal himself through creation (Rom 1:18-32), we should not neglect the importance of preaching and teaching the Word of God in our missions activities. Even in the most hostile circumstances, the apostles did not neglect the reading and preaching of the Holy Scriptures. After people believed the Good News of Jesus, the apostles and church leaders faithfully taught the Word to establish the believers’ faith, equip them for ministry, strengthen them with hope in the midst of persecution and protect them from false teachings.30During the COVID-19 pandemic, one of Covenant EFC’s missionaries began planting churches in West Sumba Island – one of the poorest places in Indonesia. During her early outreach efforts, she discovered that many of the villagers could not read. How then could they learn and respond to the Word of God? She therefore constructed a radio station in her office, distributed radio receivers, and started to broadcast the reading of the Bible every day. May God multiply the fruit of people who hear, understand, believe and obey the Word of God (Matt 13:23)!
28 https://www.wscal.edu/resource-center/the-importance-of-preaching 29 https://www.call2all.org/finish-lines/proclamation-everyone/ 30 See, for example, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus.
Application:

Who has God currently placed in my life to hear the Gospel message through me?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for pastors and staff: That God will give them a greater hunger for His Word and a greater readiness to share the Gospel with the unsaved.27
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

27 Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 4:2.

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 5:7-17
Wed, 31 May 2023

Answering God’s Call in Vocation

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel?

Deeper Reflection
Daniel did not choose to serve Babylonian kings in Babylon. It was circumstances – a national crisis of his country – that compelled Daniel to be where he was and doing what he was doing. Daniel did not have the privilege, opportunity or freedom to pursue a career of his own desire. However, it was out of these adverse circumstances, that Daniel discovered God’s call for him: To serve God through serving Babylonian kings. And God gave him the specific competency to fulfil God’s call (Dan 1:17). After Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar about his dream and the interpretation, he was “promoted” to be “ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon” (Dan 2:48).When Belshazzar gathered his wise men to interpret for him the inscription on the wall, Daniel was not among them. Daniel was not unknown to Belshazzar.59 He knew him as “one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah” and “appointed him chief ” over all the wise men of Babylon (vv.11-12). It was only when the queen mentioned Daniel to him, that Belshazzar called for him (vv.10-11). Belshazzar “deliberately ignored Daniel”60 . Daniel was sidelined. How do you respond to being sidelined? For Daniel, he felt secure. Daniel was secure because he had no ambition to climb the corporate ladder. He had no interest in rewards and promotion. Daniel said to Belshazzar, “Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else” (vv.16-17). But Daniel interpreted the inscription for Belshazzar. Daniel was answering God’s call for him.
59 Ernest C. Lucas, 131 60 Ernest C. Lucas, 131
Application:

What positive attitudes do I need to cultivate in my workplace?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: To view their vocation as answering God’s call for their lives
  • Pray for self
 

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