Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you-unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. –1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (English Standard Version)

Jason M. Alexandre, Voices Against the Grain Devotional Writer

“I can’t stand preachers! Nobody is perfect! What do they have to tell me about my life?” If you haven’t heard anyone say something like that audibly, just keep on living and you will. Yet, consider that many have already said this in their hearts. What is the Gospel anyway? It is the message in which the apostle Paul was reminding the Corinthian people. It is that God, in His great love, decided to intervene in our lives by sending his only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins and on the third day he rose from the grave with resurrection power and defeating the power of death.

It’s a great point to make that yes: No one is perfect so why should you listen to anyone that preaches or attempts to teach you? Think of your most beloved friend. Imagine yourself coming from a road that you know state authorities have yet to put a sign up of the great danger that lies ahead of a deep cliff that is on the end of that road. You know that you would do all that you can to stop your friend from traveling on that road to avoid your friend’s vehicle from going over the cliff, therefore saving their life.

This is likened to the Gospel message. No, those involved in the ministries of Jesus Christ are not perfect. In fact, God saved us WHILE we were still sinners! – Romans 5:8 Christ opened our eyes so that we might see and relay the great mystery of God’s love to others. Jesus once said to Martha who was distressed about her brother’s death and puzzled about Jesus timing in showing up to help, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25-26

Ministry work should always point to Jesus Christ. He’s the glue that holds the message together. Every work which is done for God is not necessarily the work of God. Doing something for him is not enough. The real question is, who is doing it? Only those who have been born again of the Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit should be doing the work of the Lord. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. –John 3:6 Much progress is being made in sharing the great commission, an imperative mission given by Jesus himself. –Matthew 28:19-20 But woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. –Isaiah 5:20-21

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. –Romans 1:18-20

Ministry leaders are not righteous in themselves but we point to, “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.”–Romans 3:22 It’s my prayer you don’t look at the man preaching the word but look to the God-man in whom the man is preaching about. Amen

-Jason

Jason’s vision is for the gospel to continue to spread throughout the world and believes it is Christian’s responsibility to carry out this mission effectively. To learn more about the organization for which Jason volunteers, please visit www.HaitiChristianity.org.

Learn more about Jason M. Alexandre here.