Category: FOR TODAY

I was about six years old and I wanted to help mow the grass. I was too small and weak however to push the mower through the thick turf. So, my father stretched his big arms around me and gripped the mower handles and pushed and turned the mower. It was finally happening, I was mowing the lawn but not at all in my own strength—I was mowing in the strength of my father.

In the same way, Christ gives instructions to us to share the gospel. The good news of His life, death, burial and resurrection.  Not however in our own strength and authority but in His. To the church, He gives three directives.

Go and Tell

Jesus commands us, His disciple, to go and share the gospel. Don’t forget this week to go and tell someone. While sharing your faith don’t forget to invite others to church on Sunday.

Go and Teach

Make disciples, teaching all the things Christ has taught us.

Go Together

Go in His strength, in His power and authority. He never leaves us. Christ is always with us to empower the message, the teaching and the disciple making.

Just remember as you go—you are not “going it alone.”

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See Matthew 28:18-20

 

This was Paul’s stand, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.” In spite of a changing culture, decaying morals and present persecution, Paul would not cower to the cynics, shift his stand because of scoffers nor would he drink from the fountain of culture. His pledge was to stand unashamed and ready to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ at Rome. If anything should be clear, to the point, uncompromisingly distinct, boldly proclaimed and without apology, it is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We, as believers and witnesses to the gospel of Jesus Christ, will never find the affirmation we so desperately long for from our surrounding culture. The support we need is not found in the counsel of the ungodly nor in the path of sinners nor in the seat of the scornful but our delight is in the law [Word] of the Lord and it is in this law [Word] that we are to meditate day and night. We do well and prosper only in light of His counsel (see Psalm 1). This is why we gather and encourage one another in worship and fellowship each week. Christ commanded us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. We are to find our affirmation by coming together for worship, inspiration, encouragement, fellowship and even gather more frequently as we see the day of His appearing getting closer (Heb. 10:25).

Unashamed

In the Scriptures, Christians are common people who God empowers to accomplish extraordinary acts of faith. Extraordinary is, “Exceptional in character, amount, extent, degree, etc.; noteworthy or remarkable.” (Dictionary.com) So, what makes preachers extraordinary people? The answer may lie with two common men, who achieved three realistic goals, resulting in extraordinary lives for Christ.

Their audience. Peter and John were ordinary men who became extraordinary preachers only after three years attending the University of Jesus Christ. They “had been with Jesus” although, perceived to be unlearned and unskilled (Acts 4:13). Extraordinary preachers spend much time with an audience of one—Jesus.

Their aim. Pleasing government or religious establishments was unconscionable. When challenged to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, “Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard’” (Acts 4:19-21). These extraordinary preachers aimed for God’s approval in their life, church and ministry.

Their attitude. Humbly and wisely they sought support (Acts 4:23-31). The late Alex Haley, had that unique picture of a turtle sitting on top of a fence post. Whenever someone asked about it, Haley would respond, “If you see a turtle on a fence post, you know that he had some help. Any time I start thinking, ‘Wow, isn’t this marvelous what I’ve done?’ I look at that picture and remember how this turtle, me, got up on that post.” Wise preachers understand the need for their “own companions” in the faith (Acts 4:23). Elisha had Elijah, Paul had Barnabas, and Timothy had Paul. You see none of us can be all we should be without the rest of us. “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Prov. 27:17).

Be extraordinary! Have a daily audience with Jesus, aim to please Him and develop the attitude that humbly and wisely seeks the support of others.

 

Until He Returns,

Mike