Today's Devotional

April 8, 2005

Subject:  Let God Speak

Mark 13:11 - "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost."

I grew up in a Christian home and spent many years in Sunday School, BTU (Baptist Training Union), going to revivals and taking in all the church my parents could push on me.  In much of that Christian education, there were techniques to employ in order to be an effective witness for Christ.  There 4 step and 5 step processes to reaching a lost person and one was required to say all of the "right" things.  Perhaps there some good basics in all of that education but as I've matured in my faith, there is one thing that I've learned about witnessing to the lost, we don't close the deal, God does. 

I was talking to my roommate just this past week when I realized once again that God was giving opportunity for His voice to be heard.  I listened again as my roommate explained how he simply didn't really know what he was supposed to be doing in life.  As he waited for my response, I could tell that he was fully expecting, "The Jesus Answer" when he said, "I know God will show you your purpose" in a kind of sarcastic way.  That's when I saw how God really does give us the words to say.  I then started into this 5 minute conversation about some of my roommates great attributes.  I had seen his honesty and frankness demonstrated in conversations with me and others.  I talked about how he had a natural attraction for people and I contrasted it with how I only got that passion after spending time with Christ.  I told him that I then realized that God gave me that for His purposes.  My physical fitness training is used to reach people.  My music is used to reach people.  God gives us all of our abilities to be used for Him.  I then told him, "God can really use people who reach people and that's a gift that He's given you."  When I finished he was noticeably quite and said, "I never thought of it that way." 

I'm still amazed at how I was able to lay out all of my roommates great attributes and I think that's how God sees us.  While there has been a background of much study and Christian development, I really didn't ponder how to respond, but instead saw that God gave me the things to say, when I needed to say them.  I didn't give the typical, "Jesus answer." 

I've learned that we should stop taking the credit for winning people to Christ.  Today, let's let God speak.  He's much more effective in reaching the lost and while we may be used by Him, He always closes the deal.    

Carlen