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Aug 22, 2024 06:00am

What’s Stopping You?

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Hundreds of ants spilled over the rocks I had just moved. Their home had been disturbed and they were moving quickly here and there. I watched with intrigue and noticed several of them were carrying things, too small for me to really notice what it was. Ants are interesting, aren’t they? Resilient. Their home had been destroyed but here they were continuing on with their work. They would make a new home wherever they landed and they would keep doing what ants do. Because that’s what they are.

Acts 8:4
“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”

Persecution of the early church had begun. Saul was waging war against the Christians, and many fled for safety.

Can you imagine?

Knowing your entire family is in danger because of what you are. Having to flee your home, give up everything you had built and start fresh somewhere else. Where would you go? How would you survive? What would you do?

These are the questions that would be running through my mind.

Yet, this is not what the Bible records happening with these men and women. It says wherever they went, they continued preaching the Word.

How? Why?

Because that’s what they are – Christians. They had a job to do – to tell others about Jesus Christ – and they weren’t going to let this stop them.

Jesus had told them they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. They just didn’t know it would be persecution that would get them out of their comfort zone to share His name.

Sure, they could have had a pity party. They had every right to do so. But they didn’t. They did what God called them to do.

Are we?

If not, what’s stopping you?

Like the early Christians, we have been commissioned to go and make disciples. Yet, “just one-third of Christians (33%) is categorized by Barna as a disciplemaker, actively helping someone grow in faith and move closer to Christ.”

It’s who we are! It’s what we are supposed to be doing! What’s holding us back?

If you think everyone already knows about Jesus, you’re wrong. There is a generation who has grown up not hearing anything about the love of Christ and what He did for them. Share the truth and lead them in a relationship with Him. Show them how to follow Jesus every day.

Need help?

Go to follow.lifeword.org. This is an easy to use and understand tool with quick, meaningful, biblical lessons, that invite you on a journey to becoming a disciple of Christ. And you can use it with someone as you invite them on the journey with you.

What’s stopping you?