Obeying God can be deadly . . .

A book about prayer instructs readers to pray using Bible verses as our prompt. Yesterday’s verse was a command to go into the world and share the Gospel. As I prayed about that, a few things came to mind about the difficulty many believers have with telling others about Jesus. The main one is the threat of persecution.

I checked world news this morning on that topic. Christians are being persecuted in almost every country, some severely. In one, persecutors cut off the ears of Christian women. In others, Christians are not able to get jobs. In our culture, we fear rejection from peers and loss of comfort. Persecution varies in severity, but the dangers are a reality.

This morning, these verses bring me again to the topic of sharing my faith:

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:2–6)

I can do the first one — pray consistently, watchful and thankful — easy because I can do that without talking to anyone!

But this passage does not stop there. The second part implies having a drive to tell others about Jesus and having people praying for me that I will have opportunities to do it and the ability to be clear in explaining it.

Almost as an aside, it says that Paul was in prison for obeying God in this matter. Again, things haven’t changed much. He was persecuted also. The Christian message can bring people to Jesus for salvation and eternal life but also to produce in them great offense and anger. No one wants to be told they are a sinner without any ability to save themselves. No one wants to give up the control of their lives to a God they cannot see.

The last part of the above passage says to be wise — don’t bring anger and hatred on myself for any other reason than the other person does not like the Gospel. I’m not to be obnoxious, rude, pushy, or anything else that irritates others. If they get upset with me, it should be because I’m telling them the truth and doing it in a loving manner.

Sharing Christ is also supposed to be “seasoned with salt” — a word picture. When the Gospel is told to others, it should be done in such a way that people become thirsty. Salt does this. If they get angry because they don’t like the message, that is one thing. If they are angry at the messenger for the manner or attitude that the message is given, then I need to pay more attention to the Holy Spirit and less attention to whatever else is motivating me.

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Jesus, obviously some people are better at this than others. The prophets were black and white ‘declarers’ that often came across as a pain in the neck. Those gifted in compassion or encouragement might be better received. However, no matter what my gifts, I realize that all believers are commissioned to share the good news of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. In some places in the world, it does not matter how the message is delivered; those who believe in Jesus are put on a death list for no other reason. That means I can be bold or terrified, a good talker or not, an eager and talkative Christian or more apt to show my faith by what I do not what I say — not matter what I am like, Your command stands — and You want me to obey it.

Today’s thankful list . . .

That I am taking this command more seriously than ever.

That I can rely on You to help me do it.

A quiet day while hubby golfed.

He had one of his “best games ever.”

A nice afternoon nap.

Steak for supper.

Our comfortable holiday apartment.

Let my little light shine?

Christians living in a large city can easily be discouraged by the spiritual state of its population. In our ‘modern’ world, few people are interested in God, or the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. Sin is just a three-letter word and the names of the Lord are used only in blasphemy. That said, a big bad city is not without hope.

During Paul’s second missionary he came to an influential Graeco-Roman city in the Peloponnesus region. He spent 18 months in this place rich in history and wealth, rich in cultural diversity but a center for Roman paganism and a hotbed of immorality. It also hosted the biannual Isthmian games, which drew throngs from across Greece.

Why did Paul select this place called Corinth? Probably because the audience was large and from many other cities. If they heard the gospel they might take it back to their diverse homelands.

These letters deal mainly with the subject of salvation and he often uses the expression “in Christ” to describe the relationship of new believers to their Lord and Savior. This alone encourages me for it reminds me that my salvation is not ‘in me’ or anything I do. In Christ, I am not only saved but secure. He hold me in  His care.

Reaching sinners in this city was not an easy task. Human resistance to his message was compounded by other forms of opposition . . .

For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. (1 Corinthians 16:7–9)

Yet Corinth was the place God wanted him to go and blessed his ministry with many changed lives . . .

For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. (2 Corinthians 7:5–7)

I live in a big city, not huge with millions of people but the problems that begin with sin and selfishness are definitely here. Crime, domestic violence, perversion of various kinds, and all sorts of abuses. One agency dealing with abused children says they have 300-400 open cases at any given time and figure that is less than 10% of what exists. All of this is intimidating to say the least, yet Paul went into a city like that, perhaps worse, and bravely told them about Jesus. Some had ears to hear and people were saved from sin even though they lived in what could be called one of the sin-cities in the New Testament.

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Jesus, I know that taking a big-picture look at Corinth will be encouraging. I also know that You had few words of commendation to the church in this city as they struggled to shed their old life and live ‘in Christ’ to glorify You. I’m expecting lots of instruction and encouragement to help me be a stronger Christian in the city where I live. Thank You! Amen.

Telling others about Jesus

I’ve seen Bible verses on social media with a note that comes across as a mini-sermon, preachy and without personal contact in that context. Today, the last part of Acts instructs me of other ways to share the Gospel.

Paul is arrested and defends himself, first before a Jewish mob and the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, then before Felix, Festus, and Herod Agrippa II in Caesarea, and is finally taken to Rome. This was not an easy journey. One of his experiences was a shipwreck, but he was faithful to share Christ even during that. Finally, he was chained to a guard in his own rented house, free to carry on his preaching and teaching resulting in those of “Caesar’s household” hearing the Gospel.

In the first section of this part of his story, Paul spoke to Jewish religious leaders who rejected Christ. He speaks to them differently that how he speaks to Roman rulers, first by talking to them in their language:

“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet.(Acts 22:1-2)

If speaking to an unsaved person, I need to be aware that they may not be familiar with Christian terminology. My words can be totally confusing so I need to speak in their language.

And (Paul) said: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.(Acts 22:3-5)

Paul shared his past ideas and assumptions when he was also like them — rejecting Jesus and even persecuting those who believed. He was an educated Jew and methodical in his zeal. This revelation would be humbling to say out loud, particularly to his peers, but he was willing to be honest about his past. They would nod their heads thinking, “This man knows how we feel.” I also need to share my pre-Christ attitudes and experiences if this will help my audience know that I understand them.

“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well-spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him.” (Acts 22:6-13)

Paul also told exactly what happened to him when Jesus stopped him on his way to harm Christians. This is one thing that cannot be disputed — a personal experience. People can think I am daft, but they cannot deny what happened to me. Also, that story is major because it shows that I didn’t choose Jesus — He choose me, a major truth of the Gospel.

Neither was Paul afraid to tell his listeners about the task God gave him:

“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” (Acts 22:17-21)

Another thing that marked this man’s sharing of the Gospel was that he did not worry about the response. Acts 22 tells that, “Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, ‘Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.’” The rest of the story tells how God rescued him from this mob and from there, sent him to places where some reacted like that but many others listened, accepted, and gave their lives to Jesus Christ.

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Lord, You saved Paul and gave him courage and wisdom in telling his story. Because of this, two thousand years later there are billions of people who also have given their lives to You. Hallelujah, what a Savior!