This past Sunday, we looked specifically at how God’s providence over your entire life, including the pre-converted era of your life, is designed to advance the gospel through your witness to Christ. In fact, Paul specifically declares, during his sermon in Acts 17, that God has determined the periods and places of everyone’s existence. This clearly includes time frames, places, relationships and privileges. Now maybe there wasn’t a lot to speak of in these areas of your life, but even your experiences–even the painful ones–were ordained for your life to give you a greater gospel witness.
In fact, in Acts 22:22-23-35, there were around 3 components of Paul’s former life that were used by God for gospel advancement—1) His inherited Roman citizenship; 2) His education under the strict order of the Pharisees; 3) And his family relationships.
In light of your witness for Christ, how do you view similar things in your life?
Is your American citizenship maximally utilized for furthering the gospel in light of all of our religious freedoms? What about the abundance of great resources that are available in our language? In terms of your education or other learned skills, perhaps they earned you a great job that provides for you and your family’s needs and then some. Are you using it for gospel advancement? We need to acknowledge that, along with provisional purposes, God has certainly ordained your employment or skill-set in order that you may explicitly point to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In light of your witness for Christ, how do you view similar things in your life?
Is your American citizenship maximally utilized for furthering the gospel in light of all of our religious freedoms? What about the abundance of great resources that are available in our language? In terms of your education or other learned skills, perhaps they earned you a great job that provides for you and your family’s needs and then some. Are you using it for gospel advancement? We need to acknowledge that, along with provisional purposes, God has certainly ordained your employment or skill-set in order that you may explicitly point to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And lastly what about family relationships? Are we faithful witnesses for Christ with our family members or are we more committed to family unity than anything else, including their soul? We must not presume upon these things without using them for the furtherance of the gospel. God has granted us all some measure of grace in these areas that we might be diligent to promote the gospel in various ways. Let us be faithful by showing a greater allegiance to Christ than to these other things he has blessed us with.