One of the aspects of life today that is both sad and
intimidating is the number of people who know nothing about Jesus. When I was a
boy almost everyone was familiar with some Bible stories and the account of
Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. That is no longer the case. How will we
carry the Good News of Jesus salvation to this generation?
The mission work of the early church provides us with a
good example.
In Paul’s case, he was working in areas where no one had
heard about Jesus. I find his courage and faithfulness inspirational and, to be
honest, a little intimidating, too. He had a vision of a man in Macedonia
asking him to come and help. He went. He started in Philippi because it was a
major city in Macedonia. He observed. He found an opportunity and he began to
share the Gospel. People came to faith; specifically Lydia and her household in
our reading.
It is tempting at this point to ask, “What made Paul so
good at mission work?” That would miss something important. Verse 14 says that,
“The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.”
Do you see who is doing the work that creates faith? It is
the Lord. God still works in people’s lives to call them to faith. He uses us
to speak the message that gives them that faith.
We need to look seriously at the state of the world and
then vast number of people who do not know Jesus. God is at work among them. In
fact, he is working in the lives of your friends and neighbors (and maybe even
enemies!) who don’t believe in Jesus and have not received his forgiveness and
salvation. He is doing the heavy lifting, and he will give us opportunities to
be his witnesses so people may believe that Jesus is God’s promised savior who
forgives our sins and gives us eternal life.
What intimidates you about the current culture that we
live in? How can trusting that God is at work to bring people to faith in Jesus
help you be more bold to share the message of Jesus’ salvation?
Lord God, Paul went
where you called him to go and proclaimed the message of Christ crucified and
risen, and you created faith in people who heard that message. We thank you
that we have heard and believe in Jesus, and we thank you that we get to
proclaim that message to our neighbors today. Forgive us for fearing to witness.
Forgive us for our sins that silence us. Forgive us for thinking that our part
in this process is bigger than yours. Fill us with the Holy Spirit and help us
to live lives of faith and trust in Jesus. Give us opportunities to talk about
what he has done, and give us words to say when those opportunities arise. In
Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Comments