Hello CCA
Have you thrown a snowball with all this good “snowball” / “snowman” snow we were buried under? It’s like “make lemonade out of lemons?”
Have you recognized that Jesus gave only one call. “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men (I will make you into something I want you to be).” Has the church allowed people to think they can make God a counter-offer? “How about if You promise me heaven and I promise to be pretty good?” Jesus said to Peter, who was trying to evade, “You know I really love you”; “Oh, Do you really? Then take care of my sheep.” Jesus observes our love only when we obey His will. And he is crystal clear that he wants everyone saved.
Question for you? Do you think this request for proving love to Jesus was limited to Peter? Would a limited request fulfill what we know to be God’s will? Remember I have pointed out the last 3 weeks that the number one essential in the Bible is where God states his will in this way: God said He wants all people saved. For each person to run to him instead of from him. For each person to see the wisdom of obeying God’s plan for their life and the work to which he calls us in the world. “God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3.9 “God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2.4
Of course we aren’t well trained when we first begin to follow Christ. But sharing our faith and helping others grow in faith must be the target of our faith journey. I shared 4 stages of development last Sunday: Share stage, Connect stage, Minister stage and Disciple stage. How are you progressing? Are you making yourself ready to take on the Disciple stage? God does expect us to advance.
Tomorrow night in 60 minutes you can learn to “share your faith without fear”. Your job is a page turner. The Holy Spirit’s job is to convict. The Bible’s job is to convince. You just point the person to the next verse to read and you will see The Spirit of God and The Word of God work in that person’s life. You will witness a miracle in the making. Will the person always accept the Lordship of Christ right then? They may not. But you have just planted the “living and active Word of God” and The Word will be worming its way in from then on.
You can begin praying each day, for “Divine Appointments” as we talk with people during Fur Rondy. Can you help us sit at the table in the Mid Town Mall?
I hope you are experiencing “the joy of the Lord”