“As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” (Acts 21:37 NIV)
When arrested, Paul had one request, to share the gospel. The people he’s sharing the gospel with are the ones imprisoning him. He’s offering them the hope of eternal life, even though they treat his life so poorly.
Paul’s passion for Jesus is inspiring. Beating and attacks were a normal part of Paul’s life. We don’t know struggles like Paul knew struggles. But his struggles only spurred him on more. Paul’s arrest, to him, was opportunity to share the gospel with that particular group of people. Paul got God. He understood, wherever He was is where God wanted him to be. His mission is always the same: love them like Jesus.
Paul’s arrest was an opportunity.
When God leads our life, we find ourselves in interesting situations. Paul experienced beatings, imprisonment and a shipwreck. He had a thorn of some sort in his life God wouldn’t take away (2 Cor. 12:7-9 NIV). His life was a life of suffering by human standards. Yet he viewed every hardship as an opportunity to share the gospel with others.
“I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20: 23-24 NIV)
Each of us has our own race to run, just as Paul did. We all have the divine task of sharing the good news of Jesus. Writing has become a divine task for me. I am able to share my love of God with others. I pray my writing helps others get to know Jesus. I pray they will fall in love with Him like I have. I pray they will understand, He loves them. They are never alone, God is always with them. I pray they will grow closer to God with what they read. Writing isn’t a chore for me, it’s a privilege. When I write, I’m sharing the gospel with others, my divine task.
Find your race. Seek God and ask Him, “Who can I share the good news of Jesus with today?” Follow your passions, that’s often where you’ll find the answer. Maybe teaching children about Jesus is your passion. Maybe working with women who have suffered abuse, sharing Jesus’ love with them. Or volunteering with disabled veterans who need hope in their lives that only comes from Jesus. God has given you something you love to do. Whatever it is, use it to talk about Jesus.
Question of the Day:
Who can you share the good news with today?
Further Reading: 2 Kings 22:3-23:30 NIV, Acts 21:37-22:16 NIV, Psalm 1 NIV, Proverbs 18:11-12 NIV
