A Concern for Lost Souls Around the World

Austin Gardner • April 29, 2023

"Believers commonly have no sense of either personal duty or responsibility toward lost souls."

Arthur T. Pierson, in his book, "The Divine Enterprise of Missions," makes some shocking statements. I want to discuss them with you briefly today. 


"We need to take one step further, and we reach another equally simple but equally vital truth. "God would have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." The salvation is broad enough to cover the sin of all mankind. The rescue is ample for the ruin of the race. How shall the unsaved be reached? Behold again how divinely simple is the thought of God: let every believer become a witness—let every man, who is saved, seek to save. It is no irreverence to say that God's whole idea of missions may be found, in essence, in that one word, witnessing. The salvation of God is full and free. To accept it freely is immediate justification; to accept it fully is complete sanctification; to witness to it fully and freely is complete service—it is to be a missionary wherever we are."


First, this man of God and a great proponent of world evangelism believed that God wanted all men to be saved and come to know the truth. We should, as Pierson says, get involved in witnessing. That should be our heartbeat as well. 


However, the problem Pierson saw was that most believers do not feel any responsibility towards lost souls. 


"Believers commonly have no sense of either personal duty or responsibility toward lost souls."


"The great bulk of professing Christians have no systematic work for unsaved souls; many of them have never yet even looked upon it as a duty to seek and to save that which was lost."


Are you feeling overwhelmed by the plight of those in need? I hope your heart burns with a desire to make a difference. Here are a few simple steps you can take as you feel concern for lost souls.


1. Get informed. Find out what is going on in the world. Read books, watch documentaries, or speak to those involved. So many countries have very little gospel witness.


2. Reach out. Talk to missionaries. Support missionaries personally or through your church.


3. Pray. Pray for the lost world. Pray for missionaries and national pastors.


4. Advocate. Share your burden for lost souls with others. 


5. Take action. Finally, take action. Get involved in personal soul-winning in your church. Take a mission trip. Surrender to do whatever God would have you to do. Even the smallest of actions can have a significant impact.


You can make a difference. By getting informed, reaching out, praying, advocating, and taking action, you can show your concern for lost souls. So don't give up hope—take action today and help make a difference in the world.


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