I was once
fortunate to know a man named John. John
was fairly late to come to the Lord, being about 50 years old, when he met his
wife, and just knew that he'd have to be a better man to be worthy of her. Not long after that, he was baptized and
joined the church. John was rather
fascinated with Paul, and loved reading about the teachings and experiences
Paul had. After about 15 years of wedded
bliss, John was struck with cancer for the first time, but nothing could
diminish his spirit. He was reminded of
the number of letters in our Bible, still being read today, that Paul wrote
from prison, often having been severely beaten.
John was in and out of the hospital for years, with one cancer after
another, always greeting people with a smile, sometimes bald from chemo
treatments, oftentimes with his clothes hanging from his body. But John glowed with the knowledge that all
he had to do was ask, and the Holy Spirit gave him the words to say to the
people he met in the hospital. He talked
with doctors, nurses, orderlies, other patients, visitors in the hospital,
making sure that he followed in Paul's footsteps. Paul said, "But I do not count my life
of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I
received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace." John spoke with everyone, because he wanted
to make sure that everyone had the opportunity to know Christ, and if he didn't
convince them, well, the Holy Spirit would take over and just grow that seed
that he'd planted and others would be able to come along and water it. It was only when his body finally gave up,
didn't allow him to receive any nourishment from food, and he was literally
unable to talk with others, that the Lord took him home. His funeral filled the Baptist church here,
the largest church our town has, even though he wasn't a member there – his
pastor knew his little church wouldn't have room for everyone. Just about everyone knew John, and celebrated
his new birth into heaven.
While in the
passage in Acts, Paul is talking about effective ministry, you'll find that his
instructions were for everyone willing to share the Good News of Jesus
Christ. He talks about living an open
life, meaning one that is exemplary to anyone who might be looking. He talks about serving in humility, not seeking
the limelight, while yet not shirking one's duty. If something needs to be done, it is just as
important in the grand scheme of things as something that might seem more
important or have a more public face.
Hardships are the challenges, tests and confrontations we will face in
life; these will provide us with the experiences, and opportunities to minister
in the midst of our own troubles in order to help others.
Paul said,
"I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you
and teaching you publicly and from house to house, as I testified to both Jews
and Greeks about repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus." Balance between preaching and teaching here,
where teaching is not necessarily only by word, but also by example, is
important to introduce the Word to people, to plant a seed, but to then spend
time, one-on-one, helping that plant to grow.
Helping people discover the Good News is great – but we have to ensure that
people find the family among the Body of Christ, where every single one is
valued and appreciated for what they bring to the whole, and what makes them
unique.
Paul pointed
out, the "Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and
persecutions are waiting for me."
Predictions about hardships are not a prohibition to continuing to
fulfill your baptismal promises. We have
the Body of Christ with us; we have the Holy Spirit guiding us; and sometimes,
it's going to be tough. But persevere,
follow through and continue to share the Good News. I think John took these lessons to heart in
his life, turning hardships and challenges into opportunities to share Christ's
love with every person he met. Think of
how we can be aware of the Holy Spirit, the guidance and warnings, comfort and
cheer that the Spirit shares with us, and how we, too, can share the
"whole purpose of God."
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