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How Do You Measure Success in Teaching the Gospel?
Many become depressed talking to others about the gospel on account of the response they get. Some (sometimes most) people simply do not want to hear God's message of salvation, and we feel we have failed because they are not converted.Do you remember how often the apostle Paul was rejected? Do you remember how much trouble, real trouble, he had — beaten, thrown out of town, in prison and out and in again. And yet in 2 Corinthians 2:14 he said that God "always leads us in triumph in Christ." How could he say that considering his life and all he had been through?
It is because of his God-given view that the victory was in giving the opportunity, making the knowledge known, and then the rest was up to whoever heard or read! His job was to teach as best he could and everywhere he could. It was (as that same verse goes on to say) "the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place."
There is how we don't get depressed. We realize that the victory is in giving opportunity. If the truth is accepted we rejoice, and if not we rejoice they have been given opportunity, the "fragrance of Christ" is upon them.
People dead in their sins will go on to eternal death if the gospel is ignored. But those obeying will come to life in Christ, and will go on to eternal life because of God's love in Christ. So let us be about the business of giving as many people the opportunity of obeying God's will. This is our victory.
