20/20/20 Challenge Day #33

Today's Reading...

Exodus 33

Acts 9:1-19; 31-43

Exodus 33:19

The Lord replied, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you.  For I will show mercy on anyone I choose and I will show compassion on anyone I choose."

Acts 9:15

But the Lord said, "Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument..."

Observation

God's ability to change a person's heart never ceases to amaze me.  How he takes filth and sin that builds up in our lives; melts it, softens it and peals it away, is nothing short of the greatest miracle.  No one is beyond his reach and the older I get the more I realize that God's grace is nothing short of irresistible.

Application

Growing up I often shied away from sharing my faith.  If someone asked, I would try to give them an answer, but I didn't like the thought of engaging people in it.  I don't think it's because I was embarrassed of my faith, but rather I thought that if I didn't lead them in the sinner's prayer and see their life changed I failed, and frankly the pressure of that thought simply overwhelmed me.  The more I realize that salvation completely and unequivocally belongs to the Lord it takes the responsibility off my shoulders and places it directly on his.  Now, I can more readily share my faith and find amazing joy in doing so, because I know that salvation belongs to him and not to me.

This also plays out in the way I pastor and lead Connection Church.  If I look at salvation as being my responsibility, I'll gravitate to gimmicks, shows and programs to save people, and It will always be in the back of my mind that I have to outdo myself next week and the next.  Now, I'm not against finding and utilizing various methods to create an environment that is conducive to the Holy Spirit moving, but I also realize that in the end they are only methods and in reality God doesn't need them to save someone.  This makes ministry joyful, fun and ultimately sustainable over the long haul and helps me not to take myself to serious in the whole thing.

Prayer

Lord, thank you that your arm is not too short to save!