Today's encouragement comes from Mark 12:34a, where we read these words:
"Now when Jesus saw that he [the scribe] answered wisely, He said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' "I wonder how many people with whom we will have commerce today are "not far from the kingdom of God”? The Holy Spirit sometimes starts a work in souls, often before they are actually regenerated. Let all of us redeemed Christian churchmen recognize this fact, and act in accord with it. In other words, some people with whom we are doing evangelism—though they are (obviously) not "in" the kingdom of God yet—may not be far from it.
Clearly, proximity to the kingdom (church) has something to do with doctrinal understanding. But it must also have something to do with human love and patience. Let us be those who encourage others who are "not far” away from Jesus; and not in anyway be those who discourage them.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Grace is necessary for a Christian; others things are but inconveniences.” —Christopher Love, in his sermon, "Uses of In-struction and Trial"]
