March 27, 2023 — Unreached People

We were enjoying our breakfast, not talking about much, when Stan asked, “Are you familiar with the term, ‘unreached people group’?”

“Unreached people group,” I repeated. “Isn’t that a designation for people who have never heard the gospel?”

“That’s pretty much it,” Stan said. “Have you ever seen one?”

“Have I ever seen an unreached people group?” I replied. “Don’t think so. I haven’t been able to travel much. In fact, I’ve never been out of the country.”

“I don’t mean to offend,” Stan said, “but that’s not what I asked. I didn’t ask you if you have ever traveled outside of the country. Have you ever taken a walk in your neighborhood?”

“Of course,” I replied, “but what’s that have to do with it?”

Stan didn’t answer, but asked, “Have you ever been shopping at the grocery store or at Big Box Wholesale Club? Do you ever visit with friends and family? Do you ever go to a restaurant or to church? Do you ever look at yourself in the mirror?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Without a doubt. But what’s the point.”

“Then you’ve seen an unreached people group,” Stan replied.

“Oh,” I said, “you mean like I don’t have to go to the other side of the world to see an unreached people group? They’re right here. Is that it?”

“Everywhere we go,” Stan replied. “Everywhere we look, if we have our eyes open, there are people who have not been reached with the truth of the gospel. I was in such a group at one point in my life.”

“And what happened?” I asked.

“Someone saw me as unreached,” Stan replied. “She reached out to bring the truth of the gospel to me, and me to the truth of the gospel.”

“And you were reached,” I commented. “Good for her.”

“Better for me!” Stan replied with a big smile. “And because I am not longer in an unreached people group, I see my role as one who reaches out as well. If I don’t reach out, who will?”

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Bible verses to consider:

Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without the preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:13-15.

If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10.

And when Philip had run up, he heard him (the Egyptian Eunuch) reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Acts of the Apostles 8:30-31.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your free and gracious provision of life eternally with you. Thank you for those who reached out and brought me to the truth (and the truth to me) so I could accept your provision. I confess that too often I don’t reach out to others with the truth so they, too, have the opportunity to no longer be unreached. Please forgive me, and please lead me in following every step of your lead so I do reach out to every person in accordance with your will to help them no longer be unreached. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Are you no longer in an unreached people group because you have accepted God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally in His presence? If no, why? Why do you want to remain unreached? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing in reaching out to others with the truth of the gospel so they, too, are no longer unreached? If you sense the need for change in being reached or in reaching out to others, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?