Matthew 22:14

COVERED!

(October 03, 2023) Dr Jim McClure explains… 

The holiest day in Judaism has been celebrated each year by millions of Jews throughout the world for over well over 3000 years.  On the appointed day  in September or early October the celebration begins at sunset on Sunday and ends 25 hours later.  In Hebrew it is called ‘Yom kippur’ and in English ‘Day of Atonement.’

1. Source of the commemoration
Yom Kippur is so much more than just a commemoration of a past event and so much more than just a Jewish religious festival. Its significance reaches out to us today and also points to the future.

We read about it in Leviticus 23:27 where God said to Moses, ‘The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the Lord by fire.’

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PEOPLE EVERYWHERE NEED THE LORD!

(July 25, 2023… some remembered thoughts by the late George Forbes, missionary spokesperson)…

Over the centuries many Christians have responded to God’s calling to be missionaries and I praise God for this!

But… in doing so I remember that Matthew 22:14 says, ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’

Necessary preparation
‘Called’ (klētos) means ‘invited’, ‘appointed’, ‘selected’, or ‘favoured.’ Words to be fully considered by every person dedicating themselves to the fulfilling of the call of God in their lives.

Matthew 22:14 has been interpreted in different ways; here I would write about the fact that though God calls those whom He has chosen, many are unprepared to activate their full response to His call because they have yet to complete the essential preparations for cross-cultural ministry!

Such preparation is to do with personal growth in Christ and learning how to walk in the Spirit.

Equipping essential!
Over many years, I interviewed hundreds of mission applicants and must say that too many were novices. 

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CALLED BUT NOT CHOSEN

(November 11, 2018) George Forbes, missionary spokesperson, shares on the missionary calling…

As mentioned in August, although not classified as a missionary, Billy Graham was certainly called by God to be an evangelist to the world!

I do praise God that many have responded to God’s calling to be missionaries… but in doing so I remember that Matthew 22:14 states, ‘Many are called, but few chosen.’

Called but unprepared
This text has been interpreted in different ways; however I wish to write about the fact that though God calls those whom he has chosen, many are unprepared to activate their full response to the call of God because they have yet to complete the essential preparations for cross-cultural ministry.

Sadly for some, it is more to do with personal growth in Christ and learning how to walk in the Spirit. (more…)