1. CONCERN FOR THE SINNER:
There are many people today that reside in the world of sin. One of the kindest things that one could do for one of these that are living in sin, having never believed and obeyed the gospel, is to show them that without becoming a Christian they will ultimately be lost.
James 5:20, “let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins” (ASV).
Peter 4:18, “And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear” (ASV)? Today we see occasional opportunities to discuss with one of the unconverted their condition before God and we ought to take advantage of those occasions. Remember this, God has no voice but our voice to speak the Holy Words of Truth today to these lost ones. Let us be, as Jesus says; “about our Father’s business.” cf., Luke 2:49, “And He said to them, “Why did you seek me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business” (NKJV)?
CONSIDER THIS: Indeed, those of us that are Christians need to busy ourselves in the area of personal evangelism. Unless Christians today shoulder the responsibility to teach the lost they will never be taught, let us go, and teach. We will never be sorry that we tried to teach another.
2. CONCERN FOR THE BACKSLIDER:
Not only must we be concerned about the alien sinners in our world today, we must also be concerned about those that we know that no longer serve God faithfully. There are many people in the community here in Hilliard that at one time attended services faithfully but they have drifted away and into sin. We need to reach out to these and encourage them to return to the faith that they have abandoned.
Galatians 6:1-2, ” >1 Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ASV
CONSIDER THIS: Yes, we need to extend our outreach to the lost including our backsliding brethren, too. Many time once a Christian leaves the church we do not seek them out and try to get them back, this ought not to be. As we can see from the passage here in Galatians 6, we ought to try to restore them to Christ.
James 5:20, let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins. ASV
3. CONCERN FOR THE FAITHFUL:
Yes, we ought to be continually concerned about our brethren who are faithful. Yes, we ought to encourage them to continue in the good works that they are pursuing. We must constantly be prepared to join in every worthy effort that the faithful are pursuing. We ought to pray for the faithful ones and seek out their companionship so that we might interact with them and so strengthen our ties as brethren together.
1 John 3:11, For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another:
1 John 3:18, (My) Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.
Romans 12:9-11, Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. In love of the brethren be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another; in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; ASV
BE CONCERNED ABOUT OTHERS!