Mark 1:38-39 (NLT)
“ But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.”
Salvation is for everyone who believes that the Word of GOD was GOD, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary and became Man Jesus Christ, lives among us to bring us the grace of Salvation (John 1:1-14), so that through His body and pouring His blood for us, we can have the forgiveness of our sins (Matthew 26:28), and through His Spoken Words, the Spirit that gives us Life, will lead us to the Truth that will sanctify us and will bring us to the promise of Eternal Life with GOD on the Day of our LORD to come (John 6:63, 17:17).
Because the scheme of GOD is for everyone who believes, it was observed in the Holy Scriptures the boldness of our Lord Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel of Salvation to everyone in all places. Jesus strictly instructed His own seventy disciples before resurrection to go to all the towns and places he planned to visit, not to bring anything but to spread the Good News (Luke 10:1). And after the resurrection, He also instructed His eleven apostles to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone (Mark 16:15).
Not only that, St. Paul, a zealot of the Jewish Law was also tasked to preach the Gospel of Salvation. Saul was chosen as an instrument to take the Lord message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel (Acts 9:15). St. Paul even in his complicated situation, performed his duty to the Lord knowing how important it is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
We are blessed that the Gospel of Salvation has reached our ears and hopefully in our hearts. Many martyrs had sacrificed all over the world to evangelize. And many of them adopted others strange way of livings even it would be very hard for them just to do their duties as evangelists. They know that Jesus took the form of slaves also even He was God to fulfill the work ok Salvation for us (Phil. 2:6-7).
An example of a successful flexible evangelist is St. Paul. He narrated his story in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. It says,
“Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.”
Jesus foretold the result of this work of evangelization through His apostles and disciples all over the world. He said in Matthew 8:11, “And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
What about us? Are we included to those Gentiles that will join the feast in Heaven because of our works in spreading the Gospel? What is our story of spreading the Gospel of Salvation to our neighbors as we know we are not yet into spreading this Gospel to the ends of the earth? Are we looking for neighbors with the same color of our skin? Or maybe, are we looking for brothers and sisters in the same religion or political parties?
Remember that after Jesus sent His seventy disciples to spread the Good News in Luke 1:1-23, He immediately incited to them the story of who is your neighbor, ‘The Story of Good Samaritan’ (Luke 1:30-37). He made three men as examples. First, a priest who knew the law and do sacrifice in the temple, second, a Levite who assists in the temple, and 3rd a Samaritan, an outsider of Jewish religion but had done good deeds that neither of the first two had done.
That story teaches us that we should not be considering highly of ourselves and confine to choose who will be given the opportunity to hear the Good News of Salvation. We should learn to embrace people if they have different practice of serving GOD.
Acts 4:12 says, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” And this Jesus Christ, set us an example not to close our mind on this matter. Let us not only open our minds, but our hearts, our arms for the sake of spreading the Good News of Salvation that we have received for the glory of GOD. Do our works as our Lord Jesus Christ had done for us. Amen.
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