DCLM Higher Everyday 20 December 2023 — Care For Young Converts
Topic: Care For Young Converts
Text: Romans 1:8-12
8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
10Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
11For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
12That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Key Verse: “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established” (Romans 1:11).
Message
A young convert or a new convert is an individual who recently made a decision for Christ and received the experience of the new birth. Such an individual, irrespective of the age and status, is regarded as a babe in Christ, and like the natural new-born baby, requires lots of care and attention in order to thrive. Paul the Apostle was deeply concerned for the welfare of the new converts. He desired that they should be established in the faith and grow up into healthy, robust Christians.
Young converts need tender, loving and watchful care from their spiritual parents. They need encouragement and support during trials and persecutions. They need friendship, companionship and fellowship of the brethren. They need instructions and teaching on the basic doctrines of the Bible. They need guidance, counselling and warning against the wolves and false teachers. They need to be taught the secrets of victorious Christian living and fruitful Christian service. These are some of our obligations to the young convert. And these we must do to the end that they may be established.
Quote: They need guidance
Challenge: We have an obligation to the young converts.
Prayer for today: Help me, O Lord, to feed the lambs.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
