Bible Reading: Acts 8
Do you know that sometimes we get so sluggish as Christians? For instance …
Instead of unleashing the seed of CEO within or fertilizing our entrepreneur guts, we get trapped licking the boots of our boss because we have been able to put food on our table and vehicle on the road.
When we should be habitual God-pleasers in our ministries, we are getting comfortable becoming men-pleasers because of their accolades and affluence.
God has placed a plan in our hearts that has a global impact, but we want to habituate to the local setting forever.
Don’t you think that at such times you really need someone / something to push you from these sluggish zones? These kinds of push are most times considered unpalatable, but they end up taking us to the place where purpose is fulfilled.
I remember the story of the early disciples. Jesus Christ gave them the mandate to “go and teach all nation” Matt. 28:19. He also affirmed to them that “ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”. Acts 1:8
Although the disciples were expected to commence teaching all nations in Jerusalem, they were to keep the goal in mind (to teach all nations) and consciously move towards the goal everyday. But what did they do? For a long time they were preaching the gospel only in Jerusalem; perhaps they still thought the gospel was a “Jerusalem thing”. But God had to rescue them. How was this achieved?
“… there arose a great persecution against the assembly which was in Jerusalem, andall were scattered into the countries of Judea and Samaria except the apostles”. Those then that had been scattered went through the countries announcing the glad tidings of the word. And Philip, going down to a city of Samaria, preached the Christ to them; Acts 8:1,4-5
My God! Why did they have to be battered with maltreatment before they scattered the gospel abroad in line with divine plan? Do we not sometimes get sluggish as Christians till we get such unpalatable push? Whenever we want to remain in our sluggish lanes, may Godpermit persecution and challenges to come our way that will make us fulfill his plan for our lives. Did you say AMEN?
Whether you said amen or not, such challenges sometimes show up in our lives even though we are living rightly as Christians. They strip us of our local champion medal and dress us with that of a global champion; they push us from the sluggish lane to the destiny lane. They come in form of people and events. They are things that work together for the good of those that love God.
tope aladenusi
