For the Cause of Christ – Be You
The Bible is a book full of people who epitomized what it looks like to Be You—to use your gifts to serve the cause of Christ. All Christians are called to share the Good News of salvation that only comes through accepting the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are also called to show God’s love through prayer and acts of kindness to those around us.
Many of you are asking, “How?” How do we, flawed and fearful “mere mortals,” use our time on earth to share God’s message and care for others, so they may also know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and live a life of deep meaning and grace?
Thankfully, the Bible is full of examples of people without obvious, outstanding abilities, who loved God and served him right where they were.
Ananias, a tent maker in Damascus, was visited by God and told to take a message to the infamous Christ-hater and persecutor, Saul of Tarsus. Ananias may have questioned God’s sanity because he reminded the Lord of Saul’s hatred toward Christians. The Lord then explained,
Acts 9:15-18
15 “…Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.
Later, God sent Paul (formerly called Saul) a dream of a man from Macedonia who was pleading for help, so Paul traveled to Macedonia (Acts 16:9-10). When he arrived, he met a wealthy and well-connected woman named Lydia, who was a high-end purveyor of rare purple fabric. Once she heard the salvation message from Paul, she became a follower of Jesus and assisted Paul and his missionary team in many ways (Acts 16:11-40).
And then there was Barnabas.
Acts 11:24-26
24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)
If regular, everyday people like Ananias, Lydia, and Barnabas could do it, so can we. Yes, we’re flawed and have limitations and fears that hold us back, but we’ve also been given incredible, unique gifts and circumstances. Like them, we need to trust God, choose to step out of our comfort zones, and serve where God sends us to serve.
Be You—for the cause of Christ.
Questions:
What’s holding you back? Is it fear? Of what—failure, judgment, your limitations? Go with a servant’s heart and leave the outcome to the Lord.
Next Steps:
Sign up for and attend GrowthTrack at your CedarCreek campus. It is composed of four, free, 1-hour classes taught the first four Sundays of every month. You will learn who you are in Christ, identify your God-given gifts, and receive some suggestions on how to use those gifts to serve others.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for saving us from the cost of our sins and former rejection of your sovereignty over our lives. Please grant me the desire and opportunity to grow closer to you through Bible study, church attendance, and daily prayer. Help me to be curious about what adventures you have for me through my openness to serve you wherever you send me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
This post was written by Martha Smith, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Bible Study. Martha describes herself as a lover of Christ who likes to share faith with others.
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