Goodbook messages arrive every Tuesday and Friday with a
Scripture reading and ideas for how to apply the reading in our lives. We are
reading through the book of Acts. For additional Scripture reading, you can
follow the Advanced Track.9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in
Application:
If I had been Paul, I would have been afraid to speak about Jesus. Paul had some really scary things happen to him as a result of his testimony. In chapter 14, Paul was stoned. It was so bad that people dragged him out of the city thinking he was dead. Some of the other disciples gathered around him, and he got back up. Get this, he went right back into the city. That's someone with guts if you ask me. In chapter 16, Paul was stripped, beaten, thrown in prison, and placed in stocks. Rather than cry about it, Paul prayed and sang hymns to God. He was no wimp. In chapter 17, some who were jealous of Paul and wanted him dead started a riotous mob against him. Even that did not stop him.
Despite all that had happened, Paul kept speaking to others about Jesus. So much did he believe in the life-saving, life giving story about Jesus that he continued to speak about it despite great risk and great hardship. But now things were getting heated in
If I were Paul, I would have been afraid. But I am not Paul, and I am still afraid. Even as a pastor I get nervous, timid, shy in regards to speaking about Jesus. It's not so much in church or small group where people come to hear about Jesus, but rather when I am faced with an opportunity to talk with someone outside the church who does not have a relationship with Jesus or who may be opposed to hearing about him.
After reading Paul's story, I have to wonder what I have to be afraid of. Really?!? In our country I am not in danger of stoning, prison, mobs, or death. What's the worst that could happen? Why am I scared to share the story that has transformed my life? Why do I have such a hard time trusting that Jesus is with me and will help me share the Good News? I hear Jesus saying to me, maybe to many of us, "Do not be afraid. I am with you. Keep on speaking about me."
1) Trusting Jesus is with us, let's overcome our fear and speak to someone about Jesus! Who can you tell?
Share your comments and application ideas...
I share your nervousness and am encouraged that even pastors face this. I am finding that two things have helped me alot. First, i make my faith common knowledge. People know i like pasta, gardening and I'm a Christian. I dont overpower them with it. Then i work to form relationships with them, giving time and attention. Eventually an opportunity to share more about faith comes up. Since my faith is generally known anyway there is no knee jerk reaction to the deeper duscussion of faith. No one is taken aback when i take a faith based look at something.
ReplyDeleteThese are things that are working well for me. It is a slow process but it has resulted in some major breakthroughs. A few backfires here and there. But overall it has been good.
Great thoughts and great job witnessing Jim!
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