Today's encouragement comes from Mark 12:34a, where we read these words:
"Now when Jesus saw that he [the scribe] answered wisely, He [Jesus] said to [the scribe], 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' "There are undoubtedly people in the world today, who are "not far from the kingdom of God." The Holy Spirit’s work in souls cannot be manipulated, nor can it be well-predicted. But it is always very possible that some people with whom we are seeking to share Jesus—though they are not yet "in" the king-dom (church) of God—may not be far from it.
Clearly, proximity to the kingdom (true church) has something to do with doc-trinal understanding (especially of the gospel). But it must also have some-thing to do with human love and patience. Let us be those Christians who en-courage others who are "not far” away from the kingdom; and let us live in an inspiring and attractive way before them.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Grace is necessary for a Christian; other things are but inconveniences.” —Christopher Love, in his sermon, "Uses of Instruction and Trial"]
