Redemptive history: weak saints, Mighty Savior; frail vessels, Divine Power; trembling servants, Omnipotent Lord!

Dealing with the frail weakness of Christians (like with me, Kurt von Schleicher) is not always so easy but observing the great strength of our God at work is just exhilarating! The Father, the Son and the Spirit are vigorously, wisely, diligently at work in this world today ..and you could be a part of that. Will you be?

God deliberately uses "weak" people so that His strength, wisdom, and glory are unmistakably seen.. yes, are on display. Lord, please use me too for your sake!

Paul the Apostle wrote:

“God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”
— 1 Corinthians 1:27

Let's talk about God's recurring pattern throughout all of redemptive history: weak saints, strong Savior; frail vessels, divine power; trembling servants, omnipotent Lord.

“God does not need your strength -- He has more than enough power of His own. He asks your weakness to use as His instrument." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon

The Bible does not present God’s servants as naturally strong superheroes. Rather, it portrays them as fearful, frail, inadequate, and often deeply conscious of their own limitations. Yet the living God—Jesus Christ, the Almighty—works powerfully through them.

As Hudson Taylor famously said:

“All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with them.”

And Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote:

“Our weakness should be treasured as making room for divine strength.”

The Great Biblical Principle

The central truth is this:

God’s strength is perfected in the admitted weakness of His people.

The clearest statement is found in 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

“Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

“For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

This is not poetic exaggeration. It is a spiritual law of God’s kingdom.

When believers confess their inadequacy and depend on Christ, His supernatural strength is displayed through them.

Key Bible Verses About Human Weakness and Divine Strength

Isaiah 40:29–31

“He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.”

“Those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength.”

Psalm 73:26

“My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Ephesians 6:10

“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

Zechariah 4:6

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD of hosts.

Psalm 46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Habakkuk 3:19

“The Lord GOD is my strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10

“The joy of the LORD is your strength.”

1 Samuel 2:9

“For by strength no man shall prevail.”

Jeremiah 17:5, 7

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man...”

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD.”

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Weak Believers Have Been Used By Our Mighty God - He Delights To Do That!

Moses — “I am not eloquent.”

Exodus 3–4

• Moses felt inadequate, fearful, and unable to speak effectively (Exodus 4:10–13).
• God used him to confront Pharaoh and lead over two million Israelites out of Egypt.

Key Verse:

“Certainly I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12)

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Gideon — “My clan is the weakest.”

Judges 6–7

• Gideon called himself the least in his father's house.
• God intentionally reduced his army to 300 men so the victory would clearly belong to the Lord.

Key Verse:

“Surely I will be with you.” (Judges 6:16)

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David — A shepherd boy against Goliath

1 Samuel 17

• Young, unarmored, and underestimated.
• Trusted not in weapons but in the name of the Lord.

Key Verse:

“The battle is the LORD’s.” (1 Samuel 17:47)

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Jehoshaphat — “We do not know what to do.”

2 Chronicles 20

• Faced overwhelming armies.
• Confessed total helplessness and fixed his eyes on God.

Key Verse:

“We have no power... nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

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Asa — “Help us, O LORD.”

2 Chronicles 14:11

• Confronted a massive Ethiopian army.

Key Verse:

“It is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power.”

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Jonathan and his armor-bearer

1 Samuel 14

• Two men against a Philistine garrison.

Key Verse:

“Nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6)

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Jeremiah — “I am only a youth.”

Jeremiah 1

• Felt too young and unqualified.

Key Verse:

“Do not be afraid... for I am with you.” (Jeremiah 1:8)

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Esther

Esther 4

• Risked her life to intercede for her people.

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Mary

Luke 1

• A humble young woman entrusted with an unparalleled calling.

Key Verse:

“For with God nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)

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Peter

Acts 2–4

• Denied Christ, yet later preached with Spirit-empowered boldness.

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Paul the Apostle

2 Corinthians 12

• Lived with a “thorn in the flesh.”
• Learned that Christ’s grace was sufficient.

Key Verse:

“When I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)

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Summary Verses on Weakness and Divine Strength

• Isaiah 40:29 — “He gives power to the weak.”
• Psalm 73:26 — “God is the strength of my heart.”
• Philippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
• Ephesians 6:10 — “Be strong in the Lord.”
• Hebrews 11:34 — “Out of weakness were made strong.”
• Zechariah 4:6 — “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.”

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Human Weakness And God’s Strength

Hudson Taylor

“All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with them.”

D. L. Moody

“Moses spent forty years thinking he was somebody, forty years learning he was nobody, and forty years discovering what God can do with a nobody.”

Andrew Murray

“Our weakness is our best qualification for learning to trust God.”

A. W. Tozer

“The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One.”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“God is so boundlessly pleased with Jesus that in Him He is altogether well pleased with us.”

“God will not do anything with us until He has first reduced us to nothing.”

Joni Eareckson Tada

“Sometimes God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves.”

Oswald Chambers

“The only way to know the strength of God is to know the weakness of yourself.”

Corrie ten Boom

“There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”

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Need Some Encouragement Today?

Do you work out at the gym regularly? Well good! 

Believer, your usefulness before God does not depend on workouts or being naturally strong, gifted, or fearless. It depends on abiding in Jesus Christ and relying upon His all-sufficient grace.

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:7

The same God who strengthened Moses, Gideon, David, Jehoshaphat, Jeremiah, Peter, and Paul is there for you today!

“The LORD is my strength and my shield.” (Psalm 28:7)

Scripture teaches us:

Weak believers are not God’s second choice. Believer, you might feel like you're living God's plan B, instead of His plan A for your life, but you're not.

Conscious weakness is often the very qualification that God enjoys using.

Self-sufficiency hinders dependence on God.

Faith lays hold of omnipotence.

God receives all the glory when frail people accomplish what only He can do.

Paul the Apostle summed it up perfectly in his Epistles!

Your greatest usefulness to God does not depend on your IQ, or SQ. It's not at all dependent upon your Social IQ, or any level of talkent, intelligence, charisma, or resources!

Your availability instead of ability are important! Your willingness to say YES LORD by life and word -- it counts!

“Lord, I am weak, but You are strong. I do not know what to do, but my eyes are on You. Live Your life through me and glorify Yourself.”

And God delights to answer that prayer.

“The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Take heart, Christian.

The “omni” attributes of God are theological terms derived from Latin that describe the infinite perfections of the God of the Bible. They help us express what Scripture reveals about who God is in His absolute greatness, majesty, and glory.

“Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.” — Psalms

The Great “Omnis” of God

The prefix omni- means “all” or “without limitation.” These attributes belong to God alone in their absolute and perfect sense.

1. Omnipotence — God Is All-Powerful

Definition: God possesses unlimited power and sovereign ability to accomplish everything He wills that is consistent with His holy character and nature.

Genesis — “Is anything too hard for the LORD?”

Jeremiah — “Nothing is too hard for You.”

Matthew — “With God all things are possible.”

Revelation — “The Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.”

Job — “I know that You can do all things.”

Meaning

God never struggles, tires, or fails. He created the universe by His word, sustains every atom, raises the dead, and will ultimately defeat all evil.

2. Omnipresence — God Is Present Everywhere

Definition: God is fully present at every point in space and time. No place is outside His presence.

Psalms — “Where can I flee from Your presence?”

Jeremiah — “Do I not fill heaven and earth?”

Acts — “In Him we live and move and exist.”

Meaning

God is with His people in every circumstance and no one can hide from His sight.

3. Omniscience — God Is All-Knowing

Definition: God knows all things perfectly—past, present, and future, actual and possible.

Psalms — “His understanding is infinite.”

Hebrews — “All things are open and laid bare to His eyes.”

1 John — “God knows all things.”

Isaiah — “Declaring the end from the beginning.”

Meaning

God never learns, forgets, or discovers anything. His knowledge is perfect and exhaustive.

4. Omnibenevolence — God Is Perfectly Good and Loving

Definition: God is infinitely good, loving, merciful, and kind in all His ways.

Key Bible Verses

Psalms — “The LORD is good to all.”

1 John — “God is love.”

Exodus — “Compassionate and gracious, slow to anger.”

Meaning

God’s goodness is never mixed with evil. His love is holy, wise, and righteous.

5. Omnisapience — God Is All-Wise

Definition: God always chooses the best ends and the best means to accomplish them.

Key Bible Verses

Romans — “How unsearchable are His judgments.”

Jude — “To the only wise God.”

Isaiah — “Wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.”

Meaning

God never makes mistakes. His plans are perfect.

6. Omnibenevolent Justice — God Is Perfectly Righteous

Definition: God always does what is right and just.

Key Bible Verses

Deuteronomy — “All His ways are justice.”

Psalms — “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.”

Meaning

God is never unfair. Every decision He makes is morally perfect.

Other Infinite Attributes of God

Although they do not begin with “omni,” these are equally glorious:

Eternal — without beginning or end (Psalms)

Immutable — unchanging (Malachi)

Self-Existent (Aseity) — dependent on no one (Exodus)

Sovereign — rules over all (Daniel)

Holy — absolutely pure (Isaiah)

Faithful — always keeps His word (Lamentations)

* Attribute & Meaning...

Omnipotent

All-powerful

Omnipresent

Present everywhere

Omniscient

All-knowing

Omnibenevolent

Perfectly good and loving

Omnisapient

All-wise

God’s Mighty Power Is Splendid!

“There is no attribute of God more comforting to His children than the doctrine of divine sovereignty.” — Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work.” — A. W. Tozer

“The God who calls you is the God who will sustain you.” — John MacArthur

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” — A. W. Tozer

“Our weakness is never a limitation to God’s power.” — Joni Eareckson Tada

The Father desires Faithfulness and Fruitfulness in Christ - Your Acceptable Worship!

“Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.” — Jeremiah

“Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.” — Psalms

The God you serve, believer, is not limited by your weakness at all, by age, ny you resources, or your circumstances. Jesus is infinitely powerful NOW, infinitely wise, fully present, and perfectly good. The Christian life is learning to trust your utter weakness to His utter sufficiency.

“The less we have, the more we depend on God. The more we depend on God, the more we discover His sufficiency.” — Hudson Taylor

Your weakness is not a block like unbelief can be -- its not at all a barrier to God’s work. It is often the very stage upon which His omnipotent grace shines most brightly. KnowGod.org

So when you feel weak, inadequate, tired, or overwhelmed, remember:

Your weakness is not a disqualification. It is often the very platform upon which the omnipotent strength of God is most clearly displayed.

Sup with mercy? Sup with grace and Social IQ needed? Sup with Emotional IQ Needed? Hey, God’s heart get's set in motion with wise actions for the benefit of broken and hurting people here! (Part 1)

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” — Jesus in Matthew

Mercy is compassion with sleeves rolled up for a purpose.

Mercy.. it is real love that does something for people.

Do you often take the time to pray, and to show interest in other people? Do you show interest in their interests ahead of even your own interests? I mean show interest in their lives, their feelings, their struggles? Do you keep it simple show them mercy (I get it if they keep on hurting you)?

Jesus lived like that--merciful. Even showing love toward those who made themselves his enemies.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, one of the Beatitudes is “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

Mercy is what we express when we are led by the Spirit of God to be compassionate in our attitudes, our words, and our actions.

It is more than a mere feeling of sympathy toward someone; it is love enacted.

Mercy in a believer desires to the answer to their own prayer.. desires to be used of God to meet some immediate needs of others, to alleviate the suffering, the loneliness, and the grief inside.

Mercy addresses physical, emotional, financial, or spiritual crises with generous, self-sacrificial service. Mercy is a champion of the lowly, poor, exploited, and forgotten and mercy often acts on their behalf.

Check out Jesus in Matthew 20:29–34. Here's a really good example of mercy for us to note: “As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’ The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’ Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked. ‘Lord,’ they answered, ‘we want our sight.’ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately, they received their sight and followed Him.”

Notice that the blind men associated mercy not with a feeling but with an action. Their physical problem was that they couldn’t see, so to them, the act of mercy was Christ’s intervention to restore their sight. Mercy is more than mere empathy or a feeling; it is always followed by a wise, compassionate action.

Jesus healed cuz he is merciful. Remember His miracle of healing cuz of this (Matt. 20:29–34)?

Check out the Text. And Mark 10:46–52 indicates only one blind man, but Matthew states there were two. It is likely that Bartimaeus (mentioned by Mark) was the better known of the two and the one who took the lead in coming to Jesus. This miracle is a picture of salvation. The two men were blind, and every lost sinner is blind (2 Cor. 4:1–6). They were poor beggars, and the lost sinner is poverty-stricken apart from Christ (Luke 7:40–50). They cried out to Jesus, who alone can open men’s eyes. He showed them mercy; they were not healed by their praying or their crying. The crowd tried to stop them, and the world today tries to keep sinners from coming to Christ. The touch of Christ healed them, and they proved that their lives had changed by following Him.

What shall we have (Matt. 19:27–20:16)? The parable is not about salvation, for we cannot work for salvation; nor is it about rewards, for we do not all receive the same reward. The story concerns the selfish attitude implicit in Peter’s question. The key to the parable is that the first workers hired demanded a contract and insisted on knowing how much they would get. The other workers trusted the landowner. If you ask God for a contract, you will only rob yourself, for He is generous with His workers. Be faithful to do your job and avoid watching the other workers, and He will deal with you generously.

What do you wish (20:17–28)? Salome remembered His promise (19:28) and claimed it for her two sons. But she forgot what Jesus had just said about the cross (20:17–19). She should have known that the only way to glory is through suffering (1 Pet. 5:10). You do not pray for a throne; you pay for it. Beware selfish prayers: the Lord may answer them. James was the first apostle to be martyred (Acts 12:1–2), and John experienced great trial as a Roman prisoner (Rev. 1:9).

What do you want Me to do for you (20:29–34)? Rightly Wiersbe says they knew what they wanted, and they trusted Him for it. Do you know what you want when you come to Him in prayer? Do you persist even if others try to discourage you? What a promise we have in Hebrews 4:16!

And What was The Context of Jesus' Last Week? The events during our Lord’s last week are as follows: Sunday—He entered Jerusalem as King. Monday—He cleansed the temple and cursed the fig tree. Tuesday—He debated with the Jewish leaders and gave the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24–25). Wednesday—He rested. Thursday—He had the Last Supper; He was arrested in the Garden. Friday—He was crucified and buried. Saturday—He lay in the tomb. Sunday—He arose from the dead. Keep in mind that the Jewish day begins with sundown, so that their Friday begins Thursday evening.

This gift has a practical application of active service as well as a responsibility to do so cheerfully (Romans 12:8). Additionally, we are all called to be merciful. Jesus says in Matthew 25:40 that “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.” Matthew 5:7 promises mercy to those who are merciful toward others. As spiritually dead and blind sinners, we are no better off than the two blind men in Matthew 20. Just as they were utterly dependent on Christ’s compassion to restore their sight, so are we dependent on Him to “show us His mercy and grant us His salvation” (Psalm 85:7). This bedrock understanding that our hope depends on Christ’s mercy alone and not in any merit of ours should inspire us to follow Christ’s example of compassionate service and show mercy to others as it has been shown to us. Define God's kind of mercy. Mercy describes a divine attribute of God’s nature—He is “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4), and His “mercy is great” (2 Samuel 24:14; see also Daniel 9:9). Mercy is revealed in the actions God takes to relieve suffering and demonstrate His faithfulness and steadfast love. Mercy is such an exceptionally complex concept that several Hebrew and Greek words are used to express the dimensions of its meaning. Synonyms like compassion, lovingkindness, favor, and steadfast love often appear in Bible translations to illustrate the idea of mercy. A brief biblical definition of mercy is “the gift of God’s undeserved kindness and compassion.” On a human level, mercy is the benevolent or compassionate treatment of someone suffering or in need. Mercy is an attitude that moves us to act on behalf of the unfortunate. On a divine level, mercy is the foundation of forgiveness expressed in God’s pardon of human sin. By His divine quality of mercy, God remains faithful to His covenant promises and His relationship with His people despite their unworthiness and faithlessness (Deuteronomy 30:1–6; Isaiah 14:1; Romans 9:15–16, 23; Ephesians 2:4–9).

When God revealed Himself to Moses, He emphasized the prominence of His mercy: “The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, ‘Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty’” (Exodus 34:6–7, NLT).

In God’s mercy, He shows leniency. He withholds punishment from sinners even though they deserve it: “But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!” (Nehemiah 9:31, NLT). God’s mercy also causes Him to give good gifts to those who are undeserving: “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us” (Luke 1:78, NLT). Thus, mercy is related to grace.

Jesus Christ is the fullest, most dynamic expression of God’s mercy (Ephesians 2:4–5). In His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated compassion and mercy for the helpless and suffering (Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 20:34; Mark 6:34; Luke 7:13). Mercy motivated Christ to give “himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2; see also Galatians 2:20) so that through Him we might be forgiven of our sins (Hebrews 2:17) and granted the gift of eternal life (1 Peter 1:3; 1 Timothy 1:14–16; Jude 1:21).

In Titus 3:4–7, the apostle Paul gives us one of the best descriptions of God’s mercy as revealed in Jesus Christ: “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” God’s mercy not only forgives and saves us but also withholds the punishment we deserve.

The Bible beckons Christians “to love mercy” (Micah 6:8) and “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). Believers must show the same mercy and compassion toward one another that God demonstrates toward them (Zechariah 7:9; Matthew 5:7; 18:33–35; Colossians 3:12; James 2:12–13; 1 Peter 3:9). Mercy is also pronounced as a greeting and a blessing on God’s people (1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:16–18; 2 John 3; Jude 1:2, 21). Mercy and grace are closely related. While the terms have similar meanings, grace and mercy are not exactly the same. Mercy has to do with kindness and compassion; it is often spoken of in the context of God’s not punishing us as our sins deserve. Grace includes kindness and compassion, but also carries the idea of bestowing a gift or favor. It may help to view mercy as a subset of grace. In Scripture, mercy is often equated with a deliverance from judgment (e.g., Deuteronomy 4:30–31; 1 Timothy 1:13), and grace is always the extending of a blessing to the unworthy. According to the Bible, we have all sinned (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8). As a result of that sin, we all deserve death (Romans 6:23) and eternal judgment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:12–15). Given what we deserve, every day we live is an act of God’s mercy. If God gave us all what we deserve, we would all be, right now, condemned for eternity. In Psalm 51:1–2, David cries out, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Pleading for God’s mercy is asking Him to show kindness and withhold the judgment we deserve.

We deserve nothing good from God. God does not owe us any good thing. What good we experience is a result of the grace of God (Ephesians 2:5). Grace is simply defined as “unmerited favor.” God favors us—He shows us approval and kindness—in blessing us with good things that we do not deserve and could never earn. Common grace refers to the blessings that God bestows on all of mankind regardless of their spiritual standing before Him, while saving grace is that special blessing whereby God sovereignly bestows unmerited divine assistance upon His elect for their regeneration and sanctification.

Mercy and grace are evident in the salvation that is available through Jesus Christ. We deserved judgment, but in Christ we receive mercy from God and are delivered from judgment. In Christ we receive eternal salvation, forgiveness of sins, and abundant life (John 10:10)—all gifts of grace. Our response to the mercy and grace of God should be to fall on our knees in worship and thanksgiving. Hebrews 4:16 declares, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” And you're proud about your IQ. You need to ask yourself if you have have an emotional IQ or a social IQ as well and you need to ask yourself, are you in a right meaningful relationship with your Creator.

What can a person with a low social IQ of zero or a low emotional IQ of zero.. do to change?

They're unhappy. Real Christian take interest in other people and ask questions to see how they're really doing, how they're really feeling what they've been up to. (Unless they keep getting hurt by mean heartless people).

People with low EQ often struggle to understand and control their emotions. They might lash out and injure reactively without understanding what they are really feeling or why they are so upset. A person who lacks EQ might also have unexpected emotional outbursts that seem overblown and uncontrollable.

Emotionally immature people frequently use phrases designed to evade accountability, shift blame, and shut down productive conversations. These patterns of communication rely heavily on defensiveness, minimization, and sometimes gaslighting to avoid emotional vulnerability.

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, and empathize with others.

Emotionally intelligent people apologize for their mistakes. And those with low E IQ don't.

Being emotionally intelligent means that you are able to recognize when you've hurt someone else and then offer up a sincere 4-step apology. And not only do you apologize, but you actually follow through with making effort to change your behavior.

Emotional intelligence (EQ) and social intelligence are not fixed traits; they are flexible skills that can be built over time. If you feel you lack these skills, you can dramatically improve your interactions by learning to recognize, analyze, and practice them systematically.

1. Treat Social Skills as a Data-Driven Subject

If you are highly analytical (as many people with high IQs but low EQs are), it helps to study social and emotional cues the same way you would learn a new subject.

Study Non-Verbal Cues: Read guides or watch videos on body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.

Use Scripts and Frameworks: Have a mental list of open-ended questions (e.g., "What did you think about that?") and practice active listening techniques, such as reflecting back what someone has said before giving your opinion.

2. Practice Active Listening and Observation

People with low social intelligence often struggle with "reading the room" or dominating conversations. You can train this by taking a step back.

Stop Trying to Fix or Interrupt: When a friend or colleague is venting, they usually just want to be heard. You don't need to offer an analytical solution.

Observe Others: Watch how socially adept people behave in public settings. Note how long they make eye contact, when they smile, and how they include quieter people in a group. ​

3. Expand Your Emotional Vocabulary

Often, low EQ is tied to Alexithymia—the inability to identify and describe emotions. Most people default to basic feelings like "mad," "sad," or "happy."

Journaling: Take time daily to write down what you are feeling and explore exactly why you feel that way.

Dig Deeper: Instead of thinking, "I am mad at my coworker," try to isolate the specific emotion, such as feeling unappreciated, anxious, or overwhelmed. This allows you to communicate more effectively.

4. Seek Constructive Feedback

Because you may not naturally pick up on how your behavior affects others, ask for direct, actionable feedback from people you trust.

Ask Safe People: Let a close friend, family member, or trusted coworker know you are actively working on your social skills.

Be Specific: Ask questions like, "How do I come across in meetings?" or "What can I do differently next time we have a misunderstanding?"

5. Consider Professional Guidance

Social and emotional learning can be complex. Working with a specialized therapist or an emotional intelligence coach can provide a safe space to role-play scenarios, process emotional barriers, and break down unhelpful, long-term habits. You can use professional networks to find a credentialed therapist or counselor in your area.

It is not merely feeling sorry for someone. It is entering another person’s pain and, by God’s grace, taking practical steps to help. Mercy with a believer sees human suffering, they feel compassion, and are moved toward the hurting with grace and truth, with tenderness, and sacrificial actions even.

As Charles Spurgeon said:

“To be a Christian is to be like Christ.”

And Christ was the most merciful Person who ever walked this earth.

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What Even Is Mercy?

At its simplest, mercy is God’s undeserved compassion shown to the miserable, guilty, and helpless.

Grace gives us blessings we do not deserve.

Mercy withholds the judgment we do deserve.

Grace says, “Here is the gift of eternal life.”

Mercy says, “You will not receive the punishment your sins deserve.”

Both meet gloriously at the cross of Jesus Christ.

As The Epistle to Titus declares:

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.”

We contributed the sin.

Christ supplied the salvation.

We deserved wrath.

God lavished mercy.

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God Is Rich in Mercy

The Bible does not merely say that God has mercy. It says He is “rich in mercy” (The Epistle to the Ephesians).

When God revealed His own character to Moses, mercy stood at the forefront:

“The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.” — The Book of Exodus

Mercy is woven into the very fabric of God’s being. His mercy is:

• Great (Second Book of Samuel)
• Tender (The Gospel of Luke)
• Everlasting (Book of Psalms)
• New every morning (Book of Lamentations)

Every sunrise is proof that God has not given us what we deserve.

If justice alone had fallen upon us, we would already be in hell.

The fact that you are still breathing is mercy.

The fact that you can still repent is mercy.

The fact that Christ still invites sinners to come is mercy.

As A. W. Tozer wrote:

“Mercy is not something God has, but something God is.”

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At the Cross People Saw.. Mercy in the Face of Our Sin

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” — See Romans

“The wages of sin is death.” — The Epistle to the Romans

By nature, we are spiritually blind, morally bankrupt, and utterly unable to save ourselves.

We are like the two blind beggars sitting by the road outside Jericho.

Unable to see.

Unable to heal ourselves.

Unable to change our condition.

All we can do is cry:

“Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” — see Matthew

And when Christ hears that cry, He stops.

He calls.

He touches.

He saves.

He opens blind eyes.

And those who receive His mercy follow Him.

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Mercy Is Compassion Set in Motion

In the Jericho account, the blind men did not ask Jesus for a feeling. They asked Him for intervention.

They wanted sight, and...

Mercy gave them exactly what they needed.

Mercy is never passive.

Mercy acts.

Mercy visits the hospital.

Mercy enters the prison.

Mercy cooks a meal.

Mercy pays the bill.

Mercy listens long.

Mercy forgives deeply.

Mercy shares the gospel urgently.

Mercy tells the truth in love.

Mercy weeps with those who weep and rejoices with those who rejoice (see all of Romans).

As Billy Graham said:

“God has given us two hands—one to receive with and the other to give with.”

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Jesus Christ: Mercy Incarnate

Jesus Christ is the living embodiment of the Father's divine mercy.

He approached and touched lepers.

He fed the hungry.

He welcomed children.

He defended the broken.

He raised the dead.

He forgave sinners like me, and ultimately...

He bore our sins on the cross.

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” — read all of Isaiah

At Calvary, mercy and truth met together.

Justice was satisfied.

Wrath was absorbed. It was substitutinary.. Jesus died in my place and yours. 

Forgiveness was purchased.

Hope was secured.

“Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ’tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”  ~ John Newton 

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Mercy and Emotional Intelligence: A Biblical Perspective

The world speaks of emotional intelligence and social intelligence. Scripture speaks of wisdom, discernment, gentleness, self-control, and love.

Do you have a high IQ, good that may fill your head.

But only Christ can fill and soften your heart.

A brilliant mind without compassion can become cold, proud, and relationally destructive. Biblical maturity means:

• Being quick to hear (The Epistle of James)
• Slow to speak
• Slow to anger
• Ready to repent
• Quick to forgive
• Eager to bear burdens (The Epistle to the Galatians)

"But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23 amp

True emotional intelligence is the fruit of the Holy Spirit that is exhibited, not merely a psychological technique people talk about.

The fruit of the Spirit is LOVE.. and then those apects that define God's kind of holy love -- the joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

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Do You Have A Spiritual Gift Called Mercy?

In The Epistle to the Romans, Paul says:

“He who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Some believers are uniquely gifted to enter the pain of others and minister Christ’s comfort.

They are often:

• Tenderhearted
• Excellent listeners
• Burden-bearers
• Encouragers
• Compassionate servants

They sense suffering quickly and respond practically.

But even those with this gift must maintain Christ-centered boundaries.

Jesus loved deeply, yet He often withdrew to pray (The Gospel of Luke).

He carried our sins, but He never carried anxieties the Father had not assigned Him to bear.

We are called to bear one another’s burdens, but not to assume the role of Savior.

Only Christ can do that.

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Mercy Oughta Stay Anchored in Truth

Biblical mercy never affirms sin.

It does not enable rebellion.

It does not confuse compassion with spiritual compromise.

Mercy walks beside the wounded while pointing them to the Great Physician.

Mercy does not simply say, “I understand your pain.”

Mercy says, “There is hope in Jesus Christ.”

"Biblical love is inseparable from truth.

Truth without love can wound.

Love without truth can mislead.

Mercy joins both." ~ John MacArthur

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The Most Important Question

You may have a genius-level IQ.

You may understand complex systems and solve difficult problems.

But do you care about people?

Can you admit when you are wrong?

Do you sincerely ever apologize?

Do you ask others how they are truly doing?

Most importantly:

Are you in a right relationship with your Creator through Jesus Christ?

Without Christ, the smartest person on earth is still spiritually blind.

With Christ, even the weakest believer can become rich in mercy.

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Come to the Throne of Grace

If you are burdened by guilt, shame, loneliness, or failure, cry out like the blind men of Jericho:

“Lord, have mercy on me.”

God delights to answer that prayer.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” — Read Hebrews

Choose compassion over indifference.

Choose truth over sentimentality.

Choose prayer over burnout.

Choose Christ over self-reliance.

Choose mercy over pride.

And remember:

You are not called to absorb the pain of the world.

You are called to abide in the One who already carried it -- be faithful and fruitful. God expects that of all Christians. 

Cast your burdens upon Him, He really cares for you. 

Receive His mercy again and again.

Walk in His Spirit day after day after day.

Then become, by His grace, a living channel of His merciful compassion to a wounded and watching world. You can get right with God the Father through Jesus right here and now!

“God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.” ~ Hudson Taylor

“The measure of a man is not how many servants he has, but how many men he serves.” ~ D.L. Moody 

May we be men and women who care first, then share.

Who kneel often.

Who love deeply.

Who speak truth graciously.

Who show mercy cheerfully, and...

Who point every hurting soul to the only Savior who is truly “rich in mercy.” Amen.

There's a line that by us remains unseen - it can be crossed. I want to brag on the Lord today. I also want to show respect and love to unbelievers that Jesus loves! Why? I want them to come to Christ before their hearts become permanently hardened.

God has been called the Hound of Heaven. He is still so serious about this relentless pursuit of sinners, following them with His holy love until they give up. Please let Him win. Just surrender and discover that the One you've been so fiercely fleeing from is the very One you've been seeking all along. Here's a poem on that. 

Here Is "The Hound of Heaven" By Francis Thompson (1859–1907)

"I FLED Him, down the nights and down the days;

I fled Him, down the arches of the years;

I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways

Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears

I hid from Him, and under running laughter.

Up vistaed hopes I sped;

And shot, precipitated,

Adown Titanic glooms of chasmèd fears,

From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.

But with unhurrying chase,

And unperturbèd pace,

Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,

They beat—and a Voice beat

More instant than the Feet—

‘All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.’

I pleaded, outlaw-wise,

By many a hearted casement, curtained red,

Trellised with intertwining charities;

(For, though I knew His love Who followèd,

Yet was I sore adread

Lest, having Him, I must have naught beside).

But, if one little casement parted wide,

The gust of His approach would clash it to.

Fear wist not to evade, as Love wist to pursue.

Across the margent of the world I fled,

And troubled the gold gateways of the stars,

Smiting for shelter on their clangèd bars;

Fretted to dulcet jars

And silvern chatter the pale ports o’ the moon.

I said to Dawn: Be sudden—to Eve: Be soon;

With thy young skiey blossoms heap me over

From this tremendous Lover—

Float thy vague veil about me, lest He see!

I tempted all His servitors, but to find

My own betrayal in their constancy,

In faith to Him their fickleness to me,

Their traitorous trueness, and their loyal deceit.

To all swift things for swiftness did I sue;

Clung to the whistling mane of every wind.

But whether they swept, smoothly fleet,

The long savannahs of the blue;

Or whether, Thunder-driven,

They clanged his chariot ’thwart a heaven,

Plashy with flying lightnings round the spurn o’ their feet:—

Fear wist not to evade as Love wist to pursue.

Still with unhurrying chase,

And unperturbèd pace,

Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,

Came on the following Feet,

And a Voice above their beat—

‘Naught shelters thee, who wilt not shelter Me.’

I sought no more that after which I strayed

In face of man or maid;

But still within the little children’s eyes

Seems something, something that replies,

They at least are for me, surely for me!

I turned me to them very wistfully;

But just as their young eyes grew sudden fair

With dawning answers there,

Their angel plucked them from me by the hair.

‘Come then, ye other children, Nature’s—share

With me’ (said I) ‘your delicate fellowship;

Let me greet you lip to lip,

Let me twine with you caresses,

Wantoning

With our Lady-Mother’s vagrant tresses,

Banqueting

With her in her wind-walled palace,

Underneath her azured daïs,

Quaffing, as your taintless way is,

From a chalice

Lucent-weeping out of the dayspring.’

So it was done:

I in their delicate fellowship was one—

Drew the bolt of Nature’s secrecies.

I knew all the swift importings

On the wilful face of skies;

I knew how the clouds arise

Spumèd of the wild sea-snortings;

All that’s born or dies

Rose and drooped with; made them shapers

Of mine own moods, or wailful or divine;

With them joyed and was bereaven.

I was heavy with the even,

When she lit her glimmering tapers

Round the day’s dead sanctities.

I laughed in the morning’s eyes.

I triumphed and I saddened with all weather,

Heaven and I wept together,

And its sweet tears were salt with mortal mine;

Against the red throb of its sunset-heart

I laid my own to beat,

And share commingling heat;

But not by that, by that, was eased my human smart.

In vain my tears were wet on Heaven’s grey cheek.

For ah! we know not what each other says,

These things and I; in sound I speak—

Their sound is but their stir, they speak by silences.

Nature, poor stepdame, cannot slake my drouth;

Let her, if she would owe me,

Drop yon blue bosom-veil of sky, and show me

The breasts o’ her tenderness:

Never did any milk of hers once bless

My thirsting mouth.

Nigh and nigh draws the chase,

With unperturbèd pace,

Deliberate speed, majestic instancy;

And past those noisèd Feet

A voice comes yet more fleet—

‘Lo! naught contents thee, who content’st not Me!’

Naked I wait Thy love’s uplifted stroke!

My harness piece by piece Thou hast hewn from me,

And smitten me to my knee;

I am defenceless utterly.

I slept, methinks, and woke,

And, slowly gazing, find me stripped in sleep.

In the rash lustihead of my young powers,

I shook the pillaring hours

And pulled my life upon me; grimed with smears,

I stand amid the dust o’ the mounded years—

My mangled youth lies dead beneath the heap.

My days have crackled and gone up in smoke,

Have puffed and burst as sun-starts on a stream.

Yea, faileth now even dream

The dreamer, and the lute the lutanist;

Even the linked fantasies, in whose blossomy twist

I swung the earth a trinket at my wrist,

Are yielding; cords of all too weak account

For earth with heavy griefs so overplussed.

Ah! is Thy love indeed

A weed, albeit an amaranthine weed,

Suffering no flowers except its own to mount?

Ah! must—

Designer infinite!—

Ah! must Thou char the wood ere Thou canst limn with it?

My freshness spent its wavering shower i’ the dust;

And now my heart is as a broken fount,

Wherein tear-drippings stagnate, spilt down ever

From the dank thoughts that shiver

Upon the sighful branches of my mind.

Such is; what is to be?

The pulp so bitter, how shall taste the rind?

I dimly guess what Time in mists confounds;

Yet ever and anon a trumpet sounds

From the hid battlements of Eternity;

Those shaken mists a space unsettle, then

Round the half-glimpsèd turrets slowly wash again.

But not ere him who summoneth

I first have seen, enwound

With glooming robes purpureal, cypress-crowned;

His name I know, and what his trumpet saith.

Whether man’s heart or life it be which yields

Thee harvest, must Thy harvest-fields

Be dunged with rotten death?

Now of that long pursuit

Comes on at hand the bruit;

That Voice is round me like a bursting sea:

‘And is thy earth so marred,

Shattered in shard on shard?

Lo, all things fly thee, for thou fliest Me!

Strange, piteous, futile thing!

Wherefore should any set thee love apart?

Seeing none but I makes much of naught’ (He said),

‘And human love needs human meriting:

How hast thou merited—

Of all man’s clotted clay the dingiest clot?

Alack, thou knowest not

How little worthy of any love thou art!

Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee,

Save Me, save only Me?

All which I took from thee I did but take,

Not for thy harms,

But just that thou might’st seek it in My arms.

All which thy child’s mistake

Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home:

Rise, clasp My hand, and come!’

Halts by me that footfall:

Is my gloom, after all,

Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly?

‘Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,

I am He Whom thou seekest!

Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me."

Who Exactly Was Francis Thompson?

Francis Thompson (1859–1907) was a gifted English poet from Lancashire, England. He struggled for years with poverty, illness, and opium addiction, even living homeless on the streets of London. Yet through God’s providence, he was rescued, and then restored, and he became one of the great English Christian poets.

His poem The Hound of Heaven has influenced countless readers, including J.R.R. Tolkien. Thompson’s personal experience of running fast from God and then being overtaken by divine mercy, and POWERFUL GRACE gives the poem extraordinary depth and authenticity.

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What's The Central Message of The Hound of Heaven?

“I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years...”

The speaker runs from God through pleasure, relationships, nature, and personal ambition. Yet God continues pursuing him:

“With unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy...”

This is one of the most profound descriptions of the grace of God ever written. The Lord is not frantic, impatient, or uncertain. He pursues sinners steadily, sovereignly, and lovingly.

The poem ends with Christ’s tender invitation:

“Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest!”

The great discovery is that every human heart is ultimately searching for God Himself.

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What Is Deeply Biblical in the Poem?

1. God Pursues Lost Sinners

Jesus declared that He came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). And that's exactly what He did here, Jesus was diligent, He sought out the Lost! On purpose! 

• Adam and Eve in the garden.
• Jonah on the sea.
• Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus.
• The Prodigal Son while he was still far away.

Thompson’s “Hound of Heaven” is a metaphor for this relentless divine pursuit.

2. Nothing Created Can Satisfy the Human Soul

The poem shows that relationships, nature, pleasure, and dreams cannot quench spiritual thirst. See...

• Ecclesiastes
• Jeremiah 2:13
• Jesus’ words in John 4:14

As Augustine of Hippo wrote: “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.”

3. God Removes Lesser Things to Draw Us to Himself

“All which I took from thee I did but take,
Not for thy harms,
But just that thou might’st seek it in My arms.”

This is profoundly biblical. God often strips away idols so that we will seek Him alone (Hebrews 12:5–11).

4. God’s Love Is Stronger Than Human Resistance

Romans 2:4 teaches that God’s kindness leads us to repentance. The poem presents grace as persistent and patient.

5. Christ Is the Fulfillment of Every True Longing

“I am He Whom thou seekest!”

This echoes Jesus’ declaration that He alone is the bread of life, the living water, and the good shepherd.

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It's a Warning I often Think About: “There Is a Line by Us Unseen”

“There is a line by us unseen,
That crosses every path,
The hidden boundary between
God’s patience and His wrath.”

Whether or not the exact authorship is uncertain, the message is consistent with Scripture.

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Biblical Support for This Warning

Genesis 6:3

“My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.”

Proverbs 29:1

“He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

Hebrews 3:7–8

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

2 Corinthians 6:2

“Now is the accepted time... now is the day of salvation.”

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What This Warning Does NOT Mean

It does not mean that a truly repentant sinner will be turned away.

Jesus promised:

“The one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37)

As long as a person genuinely repents and believes in Christ, there is full forgiveness.

1 Timothy 4:1–2: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith... speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron".

Ephesians 4:18–19: "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more."

1 Timothy 1:19: "..holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith."

Yes, there is a real danger for people who put it off, the most important decision of their lives. It is that repeated rejection of God may harden a person to the point where they no longer desire to repent. Their conscience becomes seared (1 Timothy 4:2). The problem is not that Christ refuses them, but that they stubbornly refuse Christ.

1. Thompson struggled during his life as a Roman Catholic man

2. He used Highly Mystical and Symbolic Language, expressions are poetic 

3. The “Hound” Metaphor speaks of how much God loves sinners like you and me. He left heaven for you and me.

Some believers may find the metaphor unusual, but it is meant positively: a hunting dog that persistently tracks its quarry. It emphasizes God’s determined love.

God is not some dog, but he can act very determined like a hound. In the Old Testament, the earnings of a "dog" could not be brought to the house of the Lord (Deuteronomy 23:18). Proverbs 26:11 compares a fool who repeats their mistakes to "a dog returning to its vomit".Rejection of the Gospel: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned, "Do not give dogs what is holy," symbolizing that unrepentant sinners do not value the sacred message of the gospel.

Psalm 22 gives us prophecies about Christ’s Calvary suffering, describing those who persecuted Him as a "pack of dogs".

The Unsaved: The book of Revelation uses "dogs" to describe the ultimate group of outsiders who do not enter the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:15).

Gentiles: Jesus momentarily used this term (of little puppies) to a Canaanite woman, reflecting the Jewish cultural distinction between God’s chosen people and "outsider" Gentiles.

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Is the Theology Sound from an Evangelical Perspective?

Yes, with discernment.

The central truths are thoroughly biblical:

• Humanity runs from God.
• God lovingly pursues sinners.
• Created things cannot satisfy.
• God removes idols.
• Salvation is found in Christ alone.
• Delaying repentance is spiritually dangerous.

These themes harmonize beautifully with sound evangelical doctrine.

The warning of The Hound of Heaven presents two truths:

1. God lovingly pursues sinners.
2. No one should presume upon God’s patience.

God says, “Come.”

The Spirit says, “Come.”

Christ says, “Whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.”

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

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Life is so brief, it seems like it's over in a flash! The Bible compares life to:

• A mist (James 4:14)
• A breath (Psalm 39:5)
• Grass that withers (Isaiah 40:6–8)
• A passing shadow (Job 14:2)

Psalm 90:12 prays, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

You and I can run to the Lord and the unchanging Bible promises of God, but we are not promised tomorrow. How long we live, God alone knows. 

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Seek the Lord While He May Be Found.. while you have breath. 

Isaiah 55:6–7 declares:

“Seek the LORD while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near...
Let him return to the LORD,
And He will have mercy on him...
For He will abundantly pardon.”

This is one of the most gracious invitations in all of Scripture.

If you are hearing God’s voice today, do not run from Him.

Do not assume there will always be another opportunity.

Do not gamble with your soul.

The Lord Jesus Christ pursued you to the cross, bore your sins, died in your place, and rose again. His arms are open wide.

Come now.

Come while you still desire to come.

Come while the Spirit of God is drawing your heart.

And when you finally surrender, you will discover that the One from whom you were fleeing is the One for whom your soul has been searching all along:

“Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest!”

Time is a precious gift. Every day of life is a great gift to thank the Lord for. As the sands in the hourglass continue to fall, remember this sobering truth: every sixty seconds, another minute of God-given opportunity slips into eternity, and with it, countless souls move one step closer to their everlasting destiny.

The Lord Jesus looked upon the multitudes and said, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2). The fields are still white unto harvest. Men and women all around us are living, suffering, and dying without the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Every heartbeat brings someone nearer either to everlasting life in the presence of God or everlasting separation from Him.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11). He also declared, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). What a staggering thought: the sovereign God of the universe has entrusted to redeemed sinners the ministry of reconciliation.

The urgency could not be greater. Scripture says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Today is all any of us are guaranteed. Yesterday is gone forever. Tomorrow is promised to no one.

Jesus asked the most penetrating question ever posed to humanity: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). No promotion, possession, pleasure, or earthly accomplishment can compensate for an eternity without Christ.

The Word of God reminds us that the lost are spiritually blinded by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:3–4), dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1), and already under condemnation apart from faith in Christ (John 3:18, 36). Yet the gospel remains “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1–4).

The risen Lord’s final marching orders still stand: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19–20). “You shall be witnesses to Me” (Acts 1:8). These are not suggestions for a gifted few, but the loving command of our King to every believer.

Charles Spurgeon pleaded with his congregation:

“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay.”

D. L. Moody said:

“The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him.”

William Booth declared:

“Not called! Did you say, ‘Not heard the call,’ I think you should say.”

Leonard Ravenhill warned:

“The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity.”

Hudson Taylor wrote:

“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.”

Oswald J. Smith asked:

“Why should anyone hear the Gospel twice before everyone has heard it once?”

Jim Elliot challenged us:

“Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”

According to The World Population Clock from the United Nations Population Fund, the world population is now over 8 billion people. Many have never heard a clear presentation of the biblical gospel.

Joshua Project estimates that more than 3 billion people live among unreached people groups, meaning they have little or no access to an evangelical church or faithful gospel witness.

The World Health Organization reports that hundreds of thousands of people die by suicide each year, underscoring the deep spiritual despair and hopelessness present in our fallen world.

The World Health Organization and UNICEF document that many children and adults die daily from preventable causes. 

Every person who dies without repentance toward God and saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ faces eternal judgment (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11–15).

Therefore, Redeem the Time

Pray earnestly.

Love sacrificially.

Speak boldly.

Weep compassionately.

Go obediently.

Witness faithfully.

A conversation may be your only opportunity.

A gospel tract may be read after you are gone.

A prayer may open a heart.

A testimony may awaken a conscience.

A simple act of kindness may prepare the soil for the seed of the Word.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30, NKJV).

“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

“He who goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:6).

May we live with hot tears in our eyes when there is loss or near loss. The gospel on our lips, the love of Christ in our hearts, and eternity in our view.

For soon our clocks will stop, our opportunities will cease, and we will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ.

Until then, let us spend and be spent for the salvation of souls, so that on that final day we may hear our Savior say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21).