In a recent blog post, I pointed out the convictions of urgency, eternity, and salvation that motivate the passionate soulwinner. Yet the heart of a soulwinner must carry more than conviction to be effective. The heart of Christ, the greatest soulwinner ever, overflowed with compassion for the lost.
Matthew 9:36 records, “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” Simply put, compassion moves us to passionate action. Genuine compassion will be tangibly expressed.
A soulwinner with the heart of Christ will express compassion in two ways:
Compassion to pray
The one prayer request Jesus gave us is for more laborers for the harvest of souls. In Matthew 9:37–38, He told His disciples: “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”
Has this prayer request made it to your prayer list? Are you asking the Lord to raise up soulwinners with a heart of compassion for the lost?
One benefit of praying for this need is that it reminds you to labor in the harvest fields yourself. It’s difficult to pray very long for dedicated soulwinners without being diligent in your own soulwinning.
Compassion to plan
The compassion of the Lord moved Him to see the need and take the lead: “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).
Many times well-meaning Christians fail to be active soulwinners because they simply do not plan their time. Soulwinning is not an activity to fit in as it works or an opportunity to take advantage of if it happens across your path. It is a divine commission from Christ, and it is a priority to purposefully schedule into your regular routines.
The older I get, the more I realize the importance of investing my time wisely. Time is limited, and there are so many ways to waste it! I want to invest my time, rather than simply spending it. Compassionate soulwinning is a time investment with guaranteed returns. Psalm 126:5–6 promises, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
At the end of life, our greatest joy will be the rewards of our eternal investments of time. Paul often expressed that those he had led to Christ and spiritually nurtured in discipleship were his “joy and crown”—his trophy.
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.” (Philippians 4:1)
What a joy it will be to stand before Christ with the fruit of souls! It can only happen as we develop the compassion of Christ for souls—compassion to pray for the lost and compassion to plan our time for the greatest investment possible.
