June 5: PREACH TO EVERY CREATURE?

And [Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

A young man who desired to become a pastor went from house to house to present Bible studies to anyone who might be interested. Many doors that he knocked on got no answer, and others who were at home shrugged it off with no interest. Toward the end of a long, hot day he began to tell himself that it was about time to quit for the day.

But the Holy Spirit nudged him to cross the street and knock again on an unanswered door from earlier in the day. A man, just home from work, opened the door. He was not smiling and appeared to be quite tired. His expressed disinterest in Bible study was firm. The young man surprised himself by asking if anyone else was home who might be ready to study the Bible. The man sighed and called his wife to the door. No, she was not interested. She closed the door. Just then, the young man noticed a dog sitting calmly on the far end of the front porch. Still keenly aware of the Holy Spirit’s leading, he walked over and knelt by the dog. He began to deliver his rehearsed presentation:

“The Holy Scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man (or creature) of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” His near-quote of 2 Timothy 3:15-16 brought giggles from three children just inside the window. The parents heard the children giggling and had joined them at the window. They warmly invited the young man into their home; the dog followed him in and sat contentedly for the next hour as the young man led the family in a lively study of the Bible’s claims regarding its origin and purpose.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13

See also: Job 23:12; Psalm 19:7; 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah 40:8; 55:11; Matthew 4:4; John 1:1; 1 Peter 1:23-25