A remarkable series of events…

After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and. . . . he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar. . . .  therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” 
And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.” 
When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: “ ‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. (Acts 28:17–31)

Paul made choices as the Spirit directed and wound up sharing the gospel with many more people than he would otherwise. He risked the trip to Caesar and God blessed his obedience with many opportunities with people who otherwise would not hear about Jesus.

As I watch world and local news, much of it about tragic events and suffering, I know that what God is doing will not be aired, mostly because the average person does not see it that way. However, since these verses are true, I know that God is using hard events for good reasons.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28–29)
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

So whatever hits me and seems bad, hurts, brings sadness or great discomfort, God can use for good, but not just my good — if I imitate Paul. He experienced many hardship yet in it all, he told others about Jesus.

Oh Lord, enable me to be not only alert to opportunities, but to Your voice and follow up with loving obedience. The world is filled with sorrow and fear of death because so many have no idea what or when they will face trials or even death. Your news is good news — all because You died to set us free from guilt of sin and rose again to free us from fear of death. Oh the wonder of how You do it — using what we call terrible events.

 
 

Wanting to share Christ?

 

The more I observe life and the activities of those who are Christian AND filled with the Holy Spirit, the more I’m convinced that the person who said “Share the gospel and sometimes use words” was on to something.

Consider this conversation between a Christian golfer and the person he was paired up with. That man said, “What’s your name?” introducing himself, the Christian said, “Phil Callaway,” and the man then asked, “Do you make the clubs?”

The Christian replied, “No, I pay people to do that” then quickly told him the truth. Then, when the conversation got past golf and the weather, it didn’t take long for the other man to  discover that Callaway was a Christian.

Then the other man said, “I’ve had awful experiences with Christians.” And Callaway responded with, “Really? Me, too.” He shared that this response opened the door for a lengthy discussion that had a positive and hopeful conclusion.

My husband tells of several golfers he’d never met or even talked to about his faith, but by the third or fourth hole, they apologized for taking the Lord’s name in vain.

The NT says: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.” (Colossians 4:5) While this may include our words, it says “walk” not “talk” leaving me to think that if my life does not match the way God wants me to live, I’m wasting my time with words about trusting Jesus for forgiveness and a new life.

Not talking does not mean non-verbal stuff like the couple once spotted who wore jean jackets covered with “Jesus” buttons, literally covered. These two stood out, but not the way they thought. Callaway mentions pinning verses to our shirts or dropping Gospels of John on the fairway instead of taking every opportunity to live out our faith. 

Most of my examples are small. I once saw a small child in the foyer of a movie theatre holding a full cup of popcorn. Someone bumped her and her popcorn landed on the floor before she had taken one bite. She was crying. I didn’t know the child, but bought her a new popcorn. That was years ago, but Callaway’s story reminds me of it. I’m to let the Lord’s ‘first thought’ become action. It was not to rebuke the one who bumped her and then walk away with a “turn or burn’ scowl, but to show kindness to the upset child.

More recently, I took my purchases to a real person rather than use the noisy automatic checkout machines. I told her that I’d rather listen to her than a machine. She almost burst into tears and said, “That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me all week.”

Some might say that the child nor the clerk knew that such actions come from the love of God, but they forget that the Holy Spirit has the ability to convey to others where kindness or any other obedient behavior comes from. My friends at this week’s birthday party did not need to spell it out or even need to say “God bless you” to make visible the extraordinary difference Christ has made in their lives. One of them, a non-Christian, told me how much she is blessed to hang out with those women. She is being drawn to the wonder of God’s goodness by the openness and integrity of their lives.

PRAY: The word that comes to mind is integrity. Jesus, my life and my words need to match. No mask. No pretense. No attitude of ‘holier than thou’ or efforts to look like a Christian (whatever that means), but just being who I am… warts and all, and letting You use me as You will. When I sing ‘just as I am’ that is what the words convey from my side of things, and You are amazing in how You use integrity to convey Your love and Your truths to others.
 

Sharing good news . . .

 

 

READ Mark 1-4

Last Sunday’s message at our church outlined essentials in sharing the Gospel with others. Monday night’s small group study used a different passage that returned our discussion to the same topic. It has been on my mind all week. Reading these chapters in Mark gives me even more to think about concerning this important task.

In some ways, Christians have a similar role to John the Baptist:

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ” (Mark 1:1–3)

John was that messenger, not the first to point to the coming Messiah, and certainly not the last to tell others about Jesus. Like John, it isn’t long before a new Christian starts sharing how they have been redeemed from a meaningless life, a wilderness compared to what is now experienced in the kingdom of God. We also realize that we must go back to that place when we share, not to live there again but to reach those who are still lost in that spiritual darkness that was once our life too. Our message begins the same way as John’s message:

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mark 1:4)

People need to know that their sins can be forgiven. We must realize and admit our sin and be willing to turn from it in repentance. This is the only way into the kingdom of God, the only way into His family. We cannot go in through church attendance, doing good deeds, or being the nicest person possible. The sin issue must be faced, confessed, turned away from, and our hearts turned to the God who forgives.

And (John) preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. (Mark 1:7)

John was a humble man. Christians who tell others about this new life in Christ can be perceived as proud of ourselves. How important to always remember who Jesus is and who we are without Him. No Christian can claim righteousness apart from Him. Pride has no place in His kingdom, only worship and glory to our Savior.

And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)

Those who face sin in honest contrition are given this awesome realization of who Jesus is — God the Son, the only One who totally pleases God. In Him, we become the Father’ children as He trades His righteousness for our sin: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

After John obeyed Jesus and baptized Him (as our example), Jesus faced great tests . . .

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. (Mark 1:12–13)

This is also what happens to new Christians. We are tested to prove that our new faith is genuine and that it is from God as a gift that will remain even during those tests. It is at this point that John’s ministry ceased and the work of Christ continued. The message was the same . . .

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14–15)

And it remains the same from that point on — because in the kingdom of God, Christians are tested and sometimes fail. We do not lose our place for that is established by Christ, but when we sin, we still need to repent and believe that wonderful truth that Jesus died for that sin, rose again, and gave us new life in Himself.

Mark said this was the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is, yet this gospel never ends. Others, like John, will guide us to Him in our joys and sorrows, encourage us to turn from sin, and to trust Jesus to finish what He started in our hearts.

For me, this is partly about how to share Christ and partly a joyful time to worship the One who made this good news possible!