HOUSTON—In Bible study July 19, Synod Fifth Vice President David D. Buegler, speaking to the theme of the 63rd Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, urged delegates to boldly share the message of Christ’s love with others.
The convention theme is “One Message—Christ! His Love Is Here for You.”
Buegler said that, in addition to Christ’s love being here for those who know they need Him and are searching for Him, “[Christ’s] love is here for those who don’t know how desperate they are.” He said they are people who have chosen roads away from God and those who believe they are in full control of their lives when, in reality, their lives are built on nothing.
“What, pray tell, are we waiting for?” Buegler asked. “We in the church are the ones to whom Christ has given His love to take to desperate people.”
Buegler said that the church needs to have a “passionate zeal” to share God’s message of salvation through Jesus – to be as zealous as Satan is about keeping people away from Jesus. Noting the Synod’s Ablaze! goal to reach 100 million people with the Gospel message by 2017, Buegler asked, “What if we don’t have until 2017 to reach 100 million people?”
Referring to Christ’s second coming, Buegler said, “For my sake, I wish Christ would come today. But for the sake of those who do not know Christ as their Savior, I pray that the Lord will be long-suffering so that we have more time … to work with zeal … to live, love, work, and share” Christ’s love with others.
The Synod’s convention in Houston ends July 19.
