How powerful, and of course indispensable, is the Word of God in this matter of winning souls to Christ. Daniel was a soulwinner and his words are recorded in Ch. 12, V3, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
From Proverbs 11:30, we find that Solomon knew the value of the soul, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” We go on to the New Testament and find this powerful Scripture in James 5:20, “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death.”
Leon H. Ellis has a challenge for all of us in another verse of his song, “Win the Lost at any Cost,” as quoted here: “As we look around us, all the fields are white; ripened unto harvest and so quickly comes the night. Christians must get busy. There is work to do. Here’s an urgent task awaiting you.”
A few years ago, I came across, purchased and read a book by Philip Cameron entitled, “It’s time! For Household Salvation.” I was so moved by the challenge and promises recorded therein that I located it in my library about a week ago and have begun reading it once again. Just the introduction of the book brought tears to my eyes as it concluded with this statement, “It’s time to claim the unclaimed promise–household salvation.” All of us have family members and friends who have not accepted Jesus as Savior.
On a sprawling corn, beans and cotton farm in the Missouri Bootheel, five miles from civilization, with no means of transportation, lived a family of nine who embraced a strong belief, reverence and love for the Lord God of Heaven and His Son, Jesus. All of the family members, except for the three youngest, had accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior, had been baptized and joined a congregation five miles away. The kind members there instituted the first “church bus route” and made sure the family was able to attend church every Sunday morning and evening.
The middle child became burdened for her three younger siblings when they began asking questions about salvation. Lying awake night after night after everyone else had dozed off, she began to pray silently and fervently for them to accept Christ as soon as they fully understood their need. God answered in a mighty way. Fast forward a couple of years, all three had come to know Christ and the sibling so burdened had the privilege of walking down the church aisle at the closing of a church service with the one closest to her. There the pastor led the seeking one to Jesus. Glory!! “Lord, do it again in families all across our land and world, and in 2025! Amen.”
The end of October, my wife and I took a few days of vacation and spent a couple of nights in Eureka Springs, AR. About three miles before we reached our destination, we saw a specialty store that caught our attention. Before leaving town on Friday morning we drove back to the store, and browsing there was a highlight of our vacation. We were captivated by a flag we saw and could not resist purchasing. It simply reads: “JESUS: MAKE AMERICA GODLY AGAIN.” It will occupy a special place in our hallway during 2025 as a regular prayer reminder.
Could this be the year that we see a move of God in our country (and hopefully around the world) so powerful that it exceeds anything in recent history? I pray that it may be so. Please join me in this prayer.
— Randy Zinn is pastor of Russell Missionary Baptist Church, Russell, Ark.; formerly of Okmulgee.
