Are you like me? Do you find it easier to take the path of least resistance? Does the thought of going against the flow sound like a lot of trouble? If so, you’re not alone.
If we let our guard down, we all have a tendency to default to what is familiar and easy. Unfortunately, that may lead to the sin of complacency.
Complacency
Why is complacency a sin? Because that leads to stagnation in our walk with Christ.
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.“
Rev. 2:14-16 NIV
Complacency also keeps us from the continued work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:2-5 NIV
One area that it is easy to grow complacent is a passion for the lost. Scripture uses the term “lost” to describe someone who does not trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
A Right View of Ourselves & Others
A renewed passion for the lost begins with a clear view of ourselves and our fellow human beings.
1. We are ALL made in the image of God.
“So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.” Gen. 1:27 NIV
It doesn’t matter if someone looks like you or completely different. It doesn’t matter if you agree with their life choices or not. It doesn’t matter if they live on the street, in a mansion, tent, or house. It doesn’t matter if they shock you or do things like you do. We are all made in the image of God and should therefore be treated as people of value, worthy of respect.
2. We are ALL sinners.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Rom. 3:23 NIV
As human beings, we tend to rank sin by how bad it is. We’ve been doing this for centuries if not millennia. That doesn’t make it right.
Take a hard look at some of these Scriptures that rank groups of sins as equal.
“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” Mark 7:21-23 NIV
Have you ever envied another person? Been arrogant? Talked bad about someone behind their back (slander)? Been foolish (folly)? Lied (deceit)? These sins are ranked equally with being a murderer.
Here are some more lists of sins, if you’d like to read them. I’m already convicted, so let’s move on.
3. We ALL struggle more with specific sins.
Each person is different and I don’t have Scripture to quote here, but I do have years of observing people.
Some people are genetically prone to alcoholism. It is harder for them to avoid the sin of alcoholism. However, it’s not impossible. I know of people with a history of alcoholism in their families who remain sober. It is just sometimes more challenging for them than for others.
The same could be true of other genetic propensities.
Our personalities also make some sins harder to resist than others. Some find it harder to avoid sinning in their anger. Some find it harder not to lie when facing a difficult situation. Some find it harder not to be arrogant. I could go on, but I hope you get my point.
Take a minute to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal recurring sins in your life.
Remember, there is no temptation, no pull to sin, that is so great that one is completely powerless. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the way out.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Cor. 10:13 NIV
4. None of us can earn our way into heaven.
As explained in this video, none of us can earn our way into heaven.
“All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isa. 64:6 NIV
It is a mistake to think we have to “clean up” our lives before we can come to Christ. It is an equal mistake to expect others to “clean up” their act before can come to church or have a meaningful interaction with a Christian. (Remember the sin of arrogance above?)
5. “Evangelism” does not mean making people look like us.
A person can live for Christ whether they are single or married, rich or poor, educated or not. They can live for Christ no matter what clothes they wear, the food they eat, or the cultural customs they follow. Paul speaks to this several times. Here is one example.
“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” 1 Cor. 9:19-23 NIV
6. The Holy Spirit changes hearts and lives, not us.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezek. 36:26 NIV
“he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” Titus 3:5 NIV
“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6 NIV
We are all in different places on this walk with Christ. We all have our own struggles and temptations. We all (believers, that is) have the Holy Spirit working within us to teach us, guide us, convict us, and make us more like Jesus.
7. Don’t be a jerk!
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Pet. 3:15 NIV, emphasis added
The Gospel includes the uncomfortable topic of sin. Approach the topic with compassion and grace. Don’t beat someone over the head with Scripture! It may be true, but that’s not any way to win someone to Christ.
“Instead, speaking the truth in love…” Eph. 4:15 NIV
8. God calls us to love others because He loved us (even while we were a sinful mess).
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:7-12 NIV
Part of that love is sharing the hope we have in Jesus Christ.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17 NIV
How to Increase Your Passion for the Lost
When we fully understand that we’re all in the same boat, evangelism becomes easier. Sharing the Gospel is not telling someone they’re wrong and we’re right. Instead, it’s one sinner sharing with another sinner how to be saved.
Do you have the gift of evangelism? Great! Please share some tips in the comments for those of us who don’t (me included).
Not having the gift of evangelism doesn’t mean that we’re exempt from sharing the Gospel with others.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NIV
Here are 7 steps to increase our passion for the lost.
- Pray and ask God to increase your burden for the lost. (That’s His heart too! 2 Pet. 3:9)
- Seek a clearer view of who God is and humankind’s relationship to Him.
- Pray for the lost.
- Ask God for opportunities to share the hope of Jesus Christ with others.
- When those opportunities come, ACT on them.
- Don’t wait until you can do it perfectly. Trust the Holy Spirit to use your imperfect efforts at obedience for His glory.
- Be aware of spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10-20).
- Don’t let fear stop you!
- Don’t take it personally if people reject the Gospel. Jesus said that would happen (Lk. 10:16).
- Keep praying and sharing!
BONUS TIPS:
- Spend time with someone who has the gift of evangelism. It’s contagious!
- Go on a mission trip that includes prayer walking and evangelism.
Please share your tips in the comments below.
Related Posts
