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Scripture Reading: Luke 14:23

“Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” I have read this verse so many times over the years in ministry. However, just recently it has taken on a new meaning for me. Most of us think of this as inviting people to church.  This actually means to go find those lost and give them the Good News that Jesus saves. It means to find the hurting, the less fortunate, the lonely, the grieving, the widows, etc., and compel them to come into Jesus, the only One who can save, comfort and provide. He is our House!

Recently, I was speaking at a church to a crowd of women of all ages. I kept noticing one particular young lady in the crowd.  Her appearance was one of loneliness and rejection. She sat literally sideways on the pew with her head down and her face covered with her hair. Her body language told me she felt out of place and unsure of what she was hearing.  She was very uncomfortable and didn’t understand what was going on.

My heart broke for this young lady. I knew there were very deep and painful issues in her life. As the teaching continued, I witnessed God completely melt this timid, hurting person right before my eyes.

As I taught on the unconditional love of God, I mentioned how He loved us before the foundations of the world and that through Him we could do all things and live in His love and presence. At the end of my speech she was facing forward, her head was partially held up, and she was listening and taking notes. 

When the service was over, this young lady made a bee line straight for me and began to share her story.  As I listened, this verse took on a whole new meaning for me. She told me she was seventeen years old, yet she had never been in a church, seen a Bible, or heard the Gospel.

This young lady was compelled (to urge or constrain) to hear the Gospel.  She was brought from the hedges (enclosed barrier) and she learned that “my house” means a family, the temple of God.  She allowed God to tear down the barriers in her life (mental, physical, and sexual abuse since she was four years old) that had fenced her in.  It was such a blessing to watch God humble her hardened and broken heart. On this day she was introduced to the good news of Jesus Christ.

For me, this verse revealed that I was the servant God had chosen to go out into the highways (a journey, or mission field) and hedges (the enclosed barriers) and tell this one young lady about the love of and salvation of Jesus.

All of God’s children are the servants to the mission field. There are highways, hedges and journeys that God has chosen specifically for you. There are barriers in people’s lives that need to be torn down. You may be the appointed one to enter that mission field.

From my heart to yours, I pray that you will be attentive to who your mission may be. It may not be someone across the seas.  It may be someone among you. When God shows you who they are, I challenge you to compel them into becoming the temple of God.

I Just Love Jesus,

Dr. Brenda J. Robinson

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• Posted by: Dr. Brenda Robinson