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Oct 11, 2024 06:00am

Passing the Torch

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I remember the first time I met Kayla. She was visiting our church alone.

I had been that girl before.

I knew all the things she was feeling. So, I invited her to sit with me. And then to lunch, and pretty soon, that girl was just part of our family at church.

And now, I see her, a wife and mom of 3 beautiful children that she’s raising to love Jesus. And she and her husband are working with the youth at their church, investing their lives into these students.

And it’s the most wonderful thing to behold.

So many have poured into her life, and it’s amazing to see her love for others, the church, and her family.

Acts 16:1-5
“Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek.
2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.”

Paul had already been to this area and had shared the gospel with the people there. He had invested time with them, teaching and encouraging them in the faith. And now, he was returning to, once again, encourage them and teach them.

But upon arrival, he was joyful to find that the people were teaching their children about Jesus, and now, they, too, were believers in Christ. He was seeing second-generation believers!

He decided to invite Timothy along with him and Silas as they continued on their missionary journey. And Timothy accepted.

I’m not claiming any credit for the incredible work God has done and is doing in Kayla’s life or for the woman she is today. But if I can feel this joy over watching her grow and seeing those sweet babies sing about Jesus, I can only imagine what Paul must have felt.

I encourage you to reach out. Be the one that invites them to sit with you. Be the one that welcomes them. Be the one that even though you have no idea if they even believe in God, you start that conversation and invite them to follow Jesus.

Find someone to walk alongside you, just as Paul did. Invite them to learn what it means to follow Jesus.

Need help? Go to follow.lifeword.org. You can use our videos to help you walk with someone on their journey to learning what it means to be a truly devoted follower of Christ.