Christians Often Miss It

6-3-2023

How Christians Often Miss It

Throughout history the church has sent out missionaries to various continents, nations and tribes seeking to enlarge the kingdom for Christ. In our own communities children are drug to church, youth groups earnestly seek out teens with flashy, splashy gimmicks to get the attention of the lost youth of America.

After becoming Christians we get so caught up in doing the “work of the lord” that we all too often get in the way of what God is doing.  It may be that we don’t ask God, but do our good works thinking we are doing it for Him.

I remember a time when I was chasing down a much needed part in order to accomplish a bit of outdoor yardwork for my local church. I had to go across town to get the part and then I had to get to the church and get back to work. I admit I was traveling down a major road in town and when the light in front of me changed to orange, I failed to obey the traffic control device. Immediately as I raced through the intersection I spotted Old Smokey at about the same time as he saw me. I pulled over and waited for the soon approaching red and blue lights as he pulled up behind me.

“License and Registration,” he asked more like a statement than a question. He said I had plenty of time to stop at the light and my feeble excuse of the car behind me didn’t fly. I couldn’t very well tell him I was running an errand for “God” or the “Church” and expect that to go anywhere either. I could see him as he ran my information in the computer.

Shortly he came back to my vehicle and said, “Somebody must be looking out for you” as he handed back my license and registration. Then he said he had to go back to the station and get another ticket book because he’d run out of tickets. He let me off with a warning – “obey those traffic control devices and slow down.” He then got back into his patrol car and pulled away.

I sat there wondering if he really did run out.

So often we miss the point of what God is doing and make a bigger mess by our witness to others by forcibly trying to bring the lost to Christ.

There is a story of a family on their way to church one Sunday morning. A car was following too close (tailgating) and the driver was getting more agitated as he was unable to pass this slow car in front. Finally he saw the opportunity and sped past the slow car. It wasn’t long before the family pulled into the church parking lot, only to see the impatient driver of that faster car was the new pastor who had parked in his designated parking spot.

Makes one wonder about that Sunday’s sermon topic.

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works.”

The way of the world is “You will do it and you will have fun”.

God’s way is to prepare the hearts of the lost and through the leading of the Holy Spirit which draws the lost to God and his unconditional and unwavering love for everyone.

John 3:16 ^– “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

When God sends you on a mission, he always prepares the way and hearts before you. – RTM