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Scripture Reading: Matthew 4

Jesus preached many things, but in Matthew chapter 4, I’m struck by one of the very first messages Jesus preached.  While it was a message of love, Jesus didn’t start off with the words, “Love one another,” or “Do to others what you would have them do to you.”  Here’s the way Jesus began his preaching ministry:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17). 

To some people, that may not sound like a very loving message for the beginning of a ministry.  But from God’s point of view, it’s one of the most loving messages we could hear ourselves, or share with others:  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”   Just as John the Baptist pleaded with people to repent, to turn away from their sins, Jesus continued preaching this same message after John was put in prison.

Jesus, of all people, knew how destructive sin is in people’s lives.  It’s so destructive that God sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we wouldn’t have die for them ourselves.  But even though Jesus would eventually pay the ultimate price for our sins, He still called for people to repent.  Why?  Because Jesus knew that our sins don’t only effect us for our eternal life, but they also effect us for our life here on earth.

If the Bible is true when it says that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23), as I believe it is, then calling people to turn away from their sins so that they can have life is one of the most loving messages we could ever share.  It’s a message that applies to believers and non-believers alike.

All people, long-time Christians included, can be caught up in all kinds of sin.  Sometimes it’s easy to fall into thinking that it’s OK to keep on sinning since we know that Jesus will forgive us of our sins when we ask Him. While that’s true, it’s also equally true that He calls us to repent of our sins.  While Jesus’ death spares us from the eternal consequences of our sins, He also wants to spare us from the earthly consequences of our sins.

Every sin we commit takes one more notch out of our lives.  Sin destroys our relationships with God and with others.  Sin keeps us from seeing clearly, acting appropriately, and experiencing the abundant life that God wants us to live.

If we want to love others like Jesus loved them, it seems that we need to be willing to preach to others like Jesus preached to them.  We don’t have to preach in a way that is “holier than thou,”  and God wants us to be wise about where, when, and with whom we share any words from Him.  But if we want to have true concern for others, one of the best ways to show them that we really care for them, and love them, is to share the message of repentance with them.

The book of James is one of the most compassionate books in the whole Bible, calling believers to put their faith into action on behalf of others.  In addition to calling us to do things like feed and clothe those in need, James ends his book with these words:

“My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this:  whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). 

The next time I’m afraid to approach someone regarding their sins, I need to remember that this is one of the most loving things I could ever do for them.  If I want to truly walk as Jesus walked, I need to be willing to preach as Jesus preached.  In doing so, I may be able to “save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

Prayer: Father, help me be willing to preach the message of repentance where, when, and to whom You call me to preach it, as a way of truly expressing Your love towards them.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.