No
Excuses.. in His Word!
It
seems that people today are looking for any reason to ignore what God
says in His Word; there is no excuse to ignore the Gospel.
Jesus
tells us in Matthew 28 to go to all the world and share the Gospel,
telling every nation, every person that God has come to save them is
not an option.
What
is however an option is where He has chosen for us to share!
Some
are sent, some stay behind to pray for those who are sent and some
are told to speak to those round and about them. Wherever you are at
any given moment is your 'mission field'. Jesus wants you to tell His
story!
He
proclaimed his covenant—the Ten Commandments-- which he commanded
you to keep, and which he wrote on two stone tablets. It was at that
time that the Lord commanded me to teach you his decrees an
regulations so you would obey them I the land you are about to enter
and occupy. Deuteronomy 4:13-15
He
gave us directions in how to behave; so we would obey them and be the
people He intended us to be.
He
gave us directions in where to go; to the ends of the earth. He
prepared us with His Word so that we
wold
know what to do, and what to say; now we need to pray and ask Him
where to go.
Some
people will be sent to the ends of the earth, some will be sent to
their neighborhood to witness to those who do not know of Jesus;
wherever you go, wherever He sends you; you are to be a witness to
the things God has done both in your life and in His Word.
This
may scare you but God called you to share the Gospel with someone. Yes you! He did not give you this great eternal life thing just to
keep it to yourself. Its like a lantern that you do not put in a
closet but you use to see.
I
am reminded of going camping years ago at a camp called Morning Star
Outreach. Today the camp is held in cabins but back when I went it
was at the Middle Creek Camp Ground in Stanislaus State Park. We camped
beside a stream and it was beautiful; but there were bears. This made
me uneasy at night.
One
night I did my normal read myself asleep and my last scripture before
I fell asleep was “I will let no harm come to thee” kjv. I prayed
and thanked God for protection and fell asleep only to wake up around
4:30-5:00 am wishing I had not had that last water bottle before I
went to sleep. It was still dark but the path was clear so I grabbed
my flashlight and slipped on my shoes.
Climbing
out of the tent I turned on the light and began walking quietly so as
not to wake other campers. As I walked I found my cheap flash light
kept going out; I shook it to turn it back on focusing on the light
it gave as much as possible. At about the middle of the camp I heard
something near the mess tent. In the moonlight, because by now my
flashlight was useless, I saw as I heard it, a bear was devouring the
forgotten garbage in the can.
My
breath stopped. The bear was enjoying our left over meal so I slowly
and silently slipped backwards to my tent and got inside. I tried to
zip up the tent without making a sound and slid into my sleeping bag;
I guess I figured if I were inside the bag I would be safe should he
find me. I was praying as I walked, and when I got into the bag I
recalled the scripture and opened directly to that scripture. “Lord, your words say that you will let no harm come to me; protect me now.” I kept praying over and over as I heard the bear sniff the air and start walking toward my tent. The ground shook gently but firmly as he approached us. One of my campers snored and it made me shake. My heart was pounding so loudly I could barely hear the sound as he stopped, stood on hind feet and sniffed the air some more. Some sounds you just never forget. I heard, and felt, him go back on all fours then stroll away running through the creek and splashing the water as he went. I slowly let out my breath that I had been holding for so long and stayed there until the sun rose and I knew I could get out of the tent safely. I kept praying the rest of that time thanking God for His protection.
God
had brought us to the camp to share the Gospel with some kids who may
never have gone to camp, or heard the Gospel had they not gone to
MSO. We were being obedient to His operative for us and He protected
us all in the process. Many young teens gave their hearts to the Lord
that week. And though I had to learn of His protection in such a
fearful way, I am glad I went.
“But
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you
will be my witnesses, telling people about me every where-- in
Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the end of the
earth.” Acts 1:7-9
Matthew
28:16-20
He
did not send us into the woods alone to fight the bears; He came to
protect us from them. Bears are important in my life and God uses
them to instruct me both in dreams and in life. He may not put a bear
outside your tent, but He may put a homeless man in the back of your
truck. Whatever God gives you; whomever God gives you to talk to, to
share His goodness with: He will be there with you and the Holy
Spirit will guide you in what you should do or say. Our job is to
listen, and do.
Wow
that was easy!
Why
no excuses? We have a God who will provide all our needs according to
His riches, what could we have to use as an excuse not to do what He
told us to do? Nothing.
He
prepares us, so that He can send us, so we can lift them up.
We
lift them up in Him, so that He can save them, and in turn they too
can go out and share the Good News of new life in Christ! How cool is
that?
If
you have never shared the Goodness of the Gospel's effect in your
life maybe you have not really experienced the true salvation of
Christ. I know when I received Christ I shared with a coworker. When
I was baptized I told the world! My family, the grocery clerk,
whoever would listen. Jesus is real! Go tell someone today!
Dear
Heavenly Father, thank you for your provisions, your protection and
your pushing us into a better life. Some call it guiding, but some of
us need a nudge. Nudge us today to be more active in sharing what You
are doing in our lives that those around us could come to the saving
knowledge of Christ too! In Jesus name, amen.
Suggested
reading: Matthew 28:1-20, Acts 1:1-22, Acts 13:1-32 and Romans
10:1-21