It’s Sunday, March 2nd, I find myself sitting among brothers and sisters who have been transformed by the Holy Spirit’s regenerative work in their hearts. We are watching a clip from a sermon about suffering. The pastor is boldly reminding his audience about the price one pays when he/she decides to follow Jesus. He reads part of Mark 8:34, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” In an attempt to communicate the urgency and weight of the Gospel, the pastor shares about believers around the world losing their lives for the sake of lost souls.
Unbeknownst to us, we were in the presence of one of these believers. He is not dead, but he was forced to flee from his home. His life was at risk. The moment he decided to believe in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior was the same moment he lost his life. His life was no longer his. It now belonged to Jesus Christ, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20)”.
This believer’s testimony reminded me of one simple fact: I WILL suffer. God doesn’t call people to comfort. He promises to comfort us in our time of need. Suffering is different for every person. It may look like sickness for one person or persecution for another. What matters is that the glory of God is displayed in our time of blessing and suffering.
Continuing his testimony, this believer shares his admiration for this pastor to whom we are listening. I am blown away not only because this is one of my favorite pastors, but because this pastor is being used in the way God has equipped him. He said “What are we doing? What am I doing to influence these unreached people groups?” This pastor has written several books, served as a pastor for 30 years, partaken in countless speaking engagements, and preached thousands of sermons. Little did he know, his sermon was shared with a Nepalese believer in the midst of persecution. This message provided hope at the perfect time for this Nepalese man. Sometimes, we don’t know the greatness of our influence. He probably doesn’t know his sermon was being shared halfway across the world by a Nepalese believer. His sphere of influence was greater than he knew.
I realize we are in the middle of the 10/40 window where billions of people have never heard the name of Jesus. These are the people groups I’ve prayed about for years. I am closer to them than ever before.
Now what?
Every season of my life has been redeemed by the blood of Christ for the glory of God. Before coming on the race, I was discipled by two women in different seasons of my life. Initially, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I agreed to meet with them weekly. I was unaware of the love, patience, and wisdom they would pour into me over time.
God has gifted me in different ways. My sphere of influence is greater than I know. My time has come. It is time to pour everything I have into the people around me. It is time to deposit what has been deposited in me. The love, patience, and wisdom given to me is now supposed to be shared. It is time to deny myself and pick up my cross. Paul Washer once said, “We will not be judged by the amount of truth we knew, but, rather, the amount of truth we lived.”
If we know and believe that outside of Christ we are sinners and the only hope for our souls is in Him, we have an important responsibility. God has equipped me, but he has also equipped you. He has equipped us and placed us right where we need to be to display His glory. We have the gift of salvation hidden in our hearts.
Now, I ask you the same question I asked myself: now what? Don’t stop there. Think about how God and other believers have poured into you. Identify your gifts.
What will you do with the truth you know?
Who will you tell about freedom in Christ?
With whom will you share about redemption?
Now what will you do?
