Sometimes Christians will look at non-Christians as the enemy.
But they are not the enemy—they are trapped by the enemy, who is the devil. They are like you, and I once were: captives of sin. That is how Christians need to see nonbelievers.
We are told in 2 Timothy 2:24-26,
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil's trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
They are in bondage, and they don't know why or how. But you know. They are under the power of the enemy. So pray that God will open their eyes spiritually. Pray they will see their need for Jesus. Pray they will respond to the gospel message.
Fulfilling the Great Commission
The big question is, do we really believe what the Bible says? Because if we do, then it means that someone who doesn't know Jesus Christ when he or she dies will go to hell. Do we really believe this? If we do, then how can we be so cavalier about evangelism? How can we be so uncaring if we really believe what we say we believe?
If we are disciples, then we need to go and make disciples of others. And if we are not making disciples of others, the question arises as to whether we are really the disciples God wants us to be. The prescription for spiritual dryness is to go out and try to win people to Christ and help them grow spiritually, fulfilling the Great Commission.
Mark 16:15 - And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Acts 2:38 - And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Luke 24:46-47 - And said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Taken from "Captives" by Harvest Ministries (used by permission).
Photo Credit: Pexels/Aaditya Arora
