Word of the week: Who?
Who made the difference for you? Was it just one person, or a committee? Of course, I use the word committee metaphorically. God uses people to bring us to Himself. He uses people to pray for us, cajole us, invite us, and teach us. Yes, some people read a bible they were given and believe the gospel, but that’s not normal. In fact, somebody put that bible there! Was there one name that made the most difference for you?
For me, it was a committee - perhaps I should say it’s been a small town full of people! Parents, grandparents, Sunday School teachers, youth leaders and InterVarsity small group leaders, and mentors helped turn me (by God’s grace) into a lifelong follower of Jesus Christ. I didn’t get where I am all alone with my bible and my prayers. I’ve needed help in each step of my journey, up until today.
In the coming weeks, we will encourage you to think about being somebody’s “who.” I pray you become a person who encourages someone to take that next step to Christ. Become the person who plugs a formerly churched family back into the caring friendship of a local church. The lost can get found by Him. The stuck can get restarted by Him.
Several years ago, a visitor sought me out. Unbeknownst to me, I had helped a friend of hers become a Christ follower. I never knew I had this influence on her friend. That friend became her “who”- that one person who made a difference. Can you imagine the joy I experienced at that moment?
Any of us can know that joy. Pray daily and ask the Lord to send you to the open person, the searching heart, the person ready to change direction. I’m praying that on October 8, 2017, we will see many of these friends at our 20th anniversary service. Who knows? God may do something wonderful and start a chain reaction of life inside someone else. Someday when they tell the story of God’s grace, you will be the “who” in their story!
In Him,
Don