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Thoughts in Worship 2.20.2015
(Read Full Devotional Here)
Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, February 20, 2015
Based Upon Acts 22
(Audio: http://goo.gl/CpKVy2)
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If I had a dollar for the number of times I have been disappointed by pulpit discourses and testimony services, I would have a pretty substantial nest-egg in the bank. All-too-often, we who preach or write, or in any way purport to share the message of Christ, instead share the message of self.
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Let’s take preaching for example. When I speak to a group of people of any size on behalf of Christ, I have less than two minutes to pray and say something of eternal value, before all is potentially lost. You may think this is a bit extreme, and I am fine with that. Unfortunately, most of us burn valuable time on earthly things when we are on point to share the heavenly. Some of us want to thank 18 of our closest friends and 12 of our most respected colleagues for the opportunity to share the pulpit without whom this would be possible. We sometimes want to share the accomplishments that have qualified us to be in this position and then negate by saying none of that even matters (Note: If it don’t matter, don’t mention it). I digress. How good is God? How faithfully has He led you and His people in the past? What hope in Him do you have for the future? Has He been gracious enough to listen to your enfeebled prayers? Has He delivered you from any debilitating sin habit? Is there some story in Scripture that has provided inestimable value, through the Holy Spirit, to your life? Preach Christ! Whether your “pulpit” is in a church with a microphone, at your desk encouraging a coworker, on a routine traffic stop talking to a dirty cop trying to extort you (That has happened to me), or in your home among discouraged family members, preach Christ! Give voice and energy to preaching Christ as though it were your last opportunity. This has been a public service announcement, brought to you by Paul, the apostle.
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You will notice that Paul did not waste even a moment getting to the crux of the matter. He immediately shared his testimony. From this model, I believe infomercial testimonials were derived. He shared how he had been just like them in the past—the problem. He persecuted the church, which really meant he was persecuting Christ. He then shared the process of his transition from the undesirable state, to that which was best. Jesus personally came to Him and told him why his life was so difficult and how to get on the right track. He then shared about the point of critical mass. He was blinded, struck down, and helpless. Now he has to make a decision. There was only one choice any reasonable person would make at that point—do whatever the Lord said. And so Paul, though physically weakened by the experience in some ways, moved in the strength of the call God made on his life and he became a new person. That was the final phase. By lifting up Christ before the people, he demonstrated how they, too, could be delivered. He solved the problem. He elevated Jesus, trusting in His promise that He would draw people to Himself.
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If corporations can see the value of this simple, compelling approach to selling pills, products, and potions, should we not embrace the model given in Scripture? All of us have a story to tell. God has been good! It is our privilege to invest the short time we have with people, in life-changing interactions. Corporations work a derivative of that plan so masterfully, that thousands of people have their credit card numbers memorized, just so they can call right away to make that order before the special offer time clock ticks down to zero. Is there something, anything, that you can share with someone today that will enrich their experience before their life’s clock ticks out?—L. David Harris (www.davidwritesalot.com)
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By Message Magazine
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(Read Full Devotional Here)
Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, February 20, 2015
Based Upon Acts 22
(Audio: http://goo.gl/CpKVy2)
-
If I had a dollar for the number of times I have been disappointed by pulpit discourses and testimony services, I would have a pretty substantial nest-egg in the bank. All-too-often, we who preach or write, or in any way purport to share the message of Christ, instead share the message of self.
-
Let’s take preaching for example. When I speak to a group of people of any size on behalf of Christ, I have less than two minutes to pray and say something of eternal value, before all is potentially lost. You may think this is a bit extreme, and I am fine with that. Unfortunately, most of us burn valuable time on earthly things when we are on point to share the heavenly. Some of us want to thank 18 of our closest friends and 12 of our most respected colleagues for the opportunity to share the pulpit without whom this would be possible. We sometimes want to share the accomplishments that have qualified us to be in this position and then negate by saying none of that even matters (Note: If it don’t matter, don’t mention it). I digress. How good is God? How faithfully has He led you and His people in the past? What hope in Him do you have for the future? Has He been gracious enough to listen to your enfeebled prayers? Has He delivered you from any debilitating sin habit? Is there some story in Scripture that has provided inestimable value, through the Holy Spirit, to your life? Preach Christ! Whether your “pulpit” is in a church with a microphone, at your desk encouraging a coworker, on a routine traffic stop talking to a dirty cop trying to extort you (That has happened to me), or in your home among discouraged family members, preach Christ! Give voice and energy to preaching Christ as though it were your last opportunity. This has been a public service announcement, brought to you by Paul, the apostle.
-
You will notice that Paul did not waste even a moment getting to the crux of the matter. He immediately shared his testimony. From this model, I believe infomercial testimonials were derived. He shared how he had been just like them in the past—the problem. He persecuted the church, which really meant he was persecuting Christ. He then shared the process of his transition from the undesirable state, to that which was best. Jesus personally came to Him and told him why his life was so difficult and how to get on the right track. He then shared about the point of critical mass. He was blinded, struck down, and helpless. Now he has to make a decision. There was only one choice any reasonable person would make at that point—do whatever the Lord said. And so Paul, though physically weakened by the experience in some ways, moved in the strength of the call God made on his life and he became a new person. That was the final phase. By lifting up Christ before the people, he demonstrated how they, too, could be delivered. He solved the problem. He elevated Jesus, trusting in His promise that He would draw people to Himself.
-
If corporations can see the value of this simple, compelling approach to selling pills, products, and potions, should we not embrace the model given in Scripture? All of us have a story to tell. God has been good! It is our privilege to invest the short time we have with people, in life-changing interactions. Corporations work a derivative of that plan so masterfully, that thousands of people have their credit card numbers memorized, just so they can call right away to make that order before the special offer time clock ticks down to zero. Is there something, anything, that you can share with someone today that will enrich their experience before their life’s clock ticks out?—L. David Harris (www.davidwritesalot.com)