God Uses You As You

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Acts 26:28-29 NIV

Wow! What an incredible statement! Paul's passion and commitment are both inspiring and intimidating to me. Inspiring in that I want to have that kind of relationship with Christ that I can tell someone that I want them to become like me. Intimidating because I feel that I so often fall short of that ideal. Do you know what I mean?

The truth is that while we may not be Paul we are who God created us to be. Ourselves. We may not stand before kings but, we stand before our family, co-workers and friends and that is who God has called us to be a witness of his love and forgiveness in Christ. 

My father thought God could not use him when he first gave his life to Christ. He firmly believed he was not worthy and was not good at witnessing and didn't know the Bible well enough and didn't know how to pray and... You get the point. God thought differently. What was funny was there was this string of people who basically asked him, "What must I do to be saved?" I knew some of those men. They would of never listened to a pastor or preacher or set foot in a church. They saw a change in his life and wanted some of whatever had changed him. 

My point is that God calls each of us to be a witness to different people. He calls us first to who he puts before us. So, who is God placing before you? 

Bullseye

Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 

Acts 24:24-25 NIV

Sometimes you can get involved in a conversation with someone and it works it's way into being an opportunity to share the gospel. A few months ago the family had gotten together for a weekend and someone brought a friend. He was a nice guy who enjoyed talking about just about anything, including politics and religion. 

When I was talking to him we started talking about religions which of course led to Christianity. The thing about intellectual and skeptical people is they tend to assume they speak from the moral high ground. In other words they see themselves outside the argument and therefore above it. 

Christianity is about personally dealing with Jesus. Even discussing the historical accuracy, authority and validity of Christ and the Scripture will naturally become a direct encounter with Jesus Christ. So, the friend suddenly got a bit defensive because it was no longer just an idea we were talking about. When Christianity is seen as what it is, people are confronted with a life changing choice. That makes them afraid. 

Felix the governor had Paul leave when it got a bit real. The friend of the family wanted out of the conversation as soon as Christ was spoken of as real. Bullseye. 

Be Built Up

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 

Acts 20:32 NIV

I have connections to a couple of churches that are in the process of finding new lead pastors. It is interesting and very telling to see how the leadership of each church goes about the process. One church rushed and one has taken their time to communicate with the body and seek God's will. 

One church took the time to communicate with the body asked everyone what they were looking for in a head pastor. They also gave them ample time and provided many opportunities to share their answers and concerns. 

In Acts 20:32 we see Paul's heart as a shepherd. He committed them to God and the word of his grace. Why? Because Paul's desire was to see the disciples built up, enjoying the inheritance of being a child of God and knowing the solace of sanctification. That's a shepherd. 

Aim to Finish

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Acts 20:24 NIV

I teach middle school and sometimes I need to remind some students why they are in school. They often act as if it's just a social gathering where they can hang out with their friends. I remind them that the real reason they go to school is to get an education.

If you notice I didn't write receive because that's passive. To truly learn students need to actively participate in the process. Isn't that like our Christian experience? To truly know Christ we need to be actively involved in knowing Christ. Like Paul we need to aim to finish the task the Lord Jesus has given us. Run the race today. Be godly at home. Be godly at work. Work hard and give the glory to God. If any opportunity opens up to share anything about Jesus, take it. You don't have to have an altar call, just share what is fitting. 

God Wants You to Find Him.

God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 

Acts 17:27 NIV

You want to know what God's plan is? Do you want to know what God really desires? He wants us to seek him, to reach out to him and to find him. It's like a parent playing hide and seek with their little child and hiding in such a way that they'll be found. That's what God has set up this world to be like. 

The good news is that he is not far from any one of us. How far away is he? He is a seek away. What's a seek? It's the time, it's the effort involved in turning to him. Again, the good news is that if you seek him, he will find you. 

So, where are you? Or maybe we should ask, what are you seeking? Do you need to turn, to repent, from what you are seeking and seek God? Seek God. He wants you to find him.