Raising Your Hand!
Are you available? Will you volunteer to advance God’s kingdom – whatever the cost? Some have said ‘YES’ – and gone to the ends of the earth to proclaim and live the gospel. In the first century, the apostle Paul recognized Epaphroditus and Lydia as ordinary people through whom Jesus established His kingdom on Earth, as it was in Heaven. Their faith, courage and obedience was noteworthy. He raised his hand – even in the midst of danger and hardship.
They were willing to help – whatever the cost, wherever that led. Lydia was the first Christian in all of Europe – she raised her hand and became the leader of a church planting team.
“My mind runs to 18th century England and colonial America. John Wesley was looking for someone to go to America to encourage the fledgling Methodists in the new world. Twenty-six year old Frank Asbury raised his hand. He took on a hard assignment. He arrived to find 316 methodist society members. He rode an average of 6,000 miles a year on horseback, a total of some 270,000 miles. He preached upwards of 15,000 sermons, ordained 4,000 clergymen and presided over 224 annual conferences of the burgeoning movement. He made an annual salary of $80. Forty-five years later, the movement had grown to 215,000.
“To this day, those Methodists were the first and only group in history to plant a church in every county in this country. I keep thinking to myself, why not now, Lord? Why not us?” – J. D. Walt. Seedbed Daily – Sept. 5, 2017.
Think about it!
