Welcome to Dr. Mike’s Daily Prescription. I truly count it a privilege to come to you each day. Not too long I wrote about an lengthy, unsigned letter that I received early in the ministry. Come with me today and thanks for allowing me to share another one of those “unsigned not-so-friendly letters!”

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us” (I John 1:8).

It was a hard lesson that I learned early in ministry. I was twenty-one years old and serving as a part-time associate pastor as I was continuing my Bible college education. The church in which I was serving had a radio and television ministry. I was preaching on the recorded television program and quoted Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” As graciously and tactfully as possible and yet without apology, I shared that everyone had sinned. I had sinned. Everyone listening to my voice had sinned. The only One Who never sinned was the Lord Jesus Christ.

Well! Well! Well! Several days later a thick packet arrived in the mail addressed to me. Inside was a lengthy letter from someone who listened to our telecast that Sunday calling me every name he could think of. His letter went from rage to ridicule and back to rage as he ranted about never sinning. “I’ve never sinned!” he proclaimed.  As a young man who had a lot to learn, I was honestly quite shaken.

Wisely, the senior pastor, Wilford Young, quietly reassured this young pastor as he said, “Mike, you’ll find that when you preach the truth in love, sometimes it is well received and other times you will be hated for it. How a person responds is not your responsibility. Preaching the truth in love is!”

I’ve never forgotten that bit of counsel. How is it for you? Are you trying to share the gospel with someone today who is resisting? Anyone who says, “I’ve never sinned!” will never sense the need for the Savior.

For sure: Keep living for the Lord and sharing with people. “All have sinned” is still God’s truth, even for today.