(Galatians 4:13-14Galatians 4:13-14
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. 14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
WP-Bible plugin) Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
With great anticipation, Americans look forward to the annual football classic, the Super Bowl. In the world of soccer, the rest of the world anxiously awaits the World Cup final every four years. On the appointed day, we settle down in our favorite chairs, surrounded by our favorite snack foods, with the room temperature and lighting just right. The situation is perfect. We are comfortable.
Sometimes we look for these same conditions when sharing the gospel. We want just the right situation, just the right surroundings, so we can say just the right words. We pray for these conditions. When they don’t happen we use them as an excuse for why we didn’t accomplish what we knew in our spirit to be the right thing to do. But this isn’t the example we find in God’s Word. Paul shared the gospel “through infirmity of the flesh.” We don’t know exactly what troubled him but it appears he had a physical problem. It made his appearance less than desirable. This is the way Paul was introduced to the Galatians! We often hear that first appearances make good impressions. But this is the reasoning of man. Look at the Lord’s words to Samuel,
(1 Samuel 16:71 Samuel 16:7
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. outward...: Heb. eyes
WP-Bible plugin) …for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Externally, the conditions for preaching to the Galatians were less than optimal for Paul. Internally, he burned in his heart for their souls. He longed to see them believe the gospel. His trust in the Lord overcame his concern about his appearance.
Giving the gospel isn’t a “business transaction” or a “sales presentation.” It is something spiritual from beginning to end. We must not reason or manipulate. We must allow the Spirit of God to do His work in us and in those who are listening. On a recent mission trip to Haiti, some friends of mine found the conditions extremely hot and uncomfortable. They were constantly thirsty and worked in poverty-filled areas. Yet, they were willing to drive two hours on dangerous unpaved roads just to have the opportunity to give the gospel to some children. What causes a person to disregard his or her own safety to preach the gospel? What causes a person to forget about their personal welfare in order to deliver God’s Word? It is the constant and burning desire to focus on the eternal, not the external. It is the desire for mission not manipulation. It is the continual working of the gospel even after salvation that drives and motivates. The zeal of God works in us zeal for God. These are the ideal conditions for sharing the gospel.
Renewed Thought – Lord, I pray you give me a broken heart and contrite spirit for the lost people I see today.
God Bless Tim Tebow
It amazing to see all the controversy around the Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad. Focus On The Family (Dr. James Dobson) is sponsoring this commercial about the sanctity of life. You can say whatever you like about Tebow’s football skills and his NFL potential. But after all the smoke clears, I believe this is the real Tim Tebow. He’s a Christian who is aware of who he is and his potential to reach people. He doesn’t hide it. I know non-Christians who would look up the Bible verses every Saturday that Tim had under his eyes. Yes, he is aware, very aware of his influence and position. I think he is so aware that he knows this commercial is going to risk his NFL future but he is taking advantage of the moment to say something that could save the life of untold millions. God bless Tim Tebow.
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