Right now we are in the middle of running our annual teenage camp. This year we are approximately 60 teenagers and leaders. The energy level of teenagers is just incredible. Last night we had our traditional night hike and I did not get to bed until 3 a.m. To be honest with you I feel I am getting to old to be running around in the forest but have to admit teenagers keep me young.
I decided to get up early this morning in order to spend some quite time with God and reflect over the incredible journey God has called us to take. During our morning meetings one of our speakers spoke about the incredible ability of the gospel to change people’s lives. Several teenagers came forward and testified of how God had changed their lives. The meeting was truly inspiring.
One teenager in particular witnessed how she was drawn close to God through the testimony of her classmate, a young Adventist girl who has decided to take her faith seriously and who invited her friend to help lead the worship at the teenage camp. Truly awesome! The common denominator in all the testimonies is how God uses ordinary people like you and me to make a difference in the lives of people.
Just think about it for a moment: I don’t think you will find one single person in the New Testament that came to faith in Christ apart from the support and help of another human being. Have you ever stopped and thought about that? We can find example after example in the Bible.
For instance we have the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch recorded in Acts 8:26-39. There are many ways that God could have reached this man from a distant country. He could have sent an angel to speak to him on the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza. Instead, God sent an angel to Philip and told him to go meet the man in the desert. So Philip went and proclaimed the gospel to that man, and we are told he accepted Christ and was baptized.
Then there was the Philippian jailer recorded in Acts 16:27–34. Once again God could have reached him in many ways. Instead, He allowed Paul and Silas to be imprisoned so that they as prisoners could get close enough to the jailer to proclaim the gospel, bringing that man and his family to Christ. They too accepted Christ and were baptized.
We can think of Cornelius, a man who was searching for God in Acts 10. An angel spoke to him and told him he needed to meet a man named Simon Peter. The angel even explained to Cornelius where to find this mystery man. Just think about it, the angel could have given him the gospel but instead God chose to use Simon Peter personally to share the good news.
And finally we have the example of Saul. While it is true that he was converted through a personal encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road, it is more accurate to say that his conversion was greatly influenced by at least two other people. First, it was the witness of seeing Stephen (the first Christian martyr) stand up for His faith as he was stoned to death that I believe softened Saul's heart and made him open to Holy Spirit. Straight after the Damascus experience, God sent Ananias to follow up on Saul and pray for him to receive the power of the Holy Spirit.
The simple truth is that God chooses to use ordinary people like you and me to bring the gospel to the lost and bless people’s lives.
Application:
Ask God to use you to direct somebody to Christ!