As part of God’s team, we are called to step up to the plate and share the Good News of Jesus Christ. This week, Luis Palau encourages us to be team players as he talks about what being part of God’s team means.
In today’s world, we all know that people are looking for hope. Politicians run entire campaigns recognizing that hope is a need of man. People are searching. They wonder. And they often, sadly, look in the wrong places.
Where does hope come from? We can offer true hope, not just political hope or surface-level hope, but real hope. We can offer this real hope to people desperate for good news. We can be the evidence that hope is available as we sacrificially serve. Hold out the evidence that the presence of God is true hope in our lives.
The Bible says in the Psalms, "Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him." "The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love."
Our hope does come from the Lord- will you share this hope with someone today? I know that there are people in your life, just as there are in mine, who need to hear the Good News. As followers-of-Jesus, it’s our joy and honor to tell others of Him. Will you do it today? Sharing the hope of God with a hurting friend or family member is what Christ-followers were made to do.
The rules of any game are used to create boundaries to make a fair playing field for each team. These rules are enforced by a referee or umpire and compiled in an official book of regulations for that sport. The life we live can easily be compared to a game and the boundaries we live by, God’s rules, serve as guidance for how to play on God’s team.
So what are the rules we are called to follow as we try to reach our world for God’s team? Rule Number 1: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Rule Number 2: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Are we following these rules daily? Are we caring for our neighbors when they are in need? Are we showing love to our co-workers despite a difficult project or deadline? Remembering God’s Word, His rules set forth for us, can guide our steps, our words, as we reach out to those around us. And, the better we know God, the more we’ll realize that these rules bring freedom and confidence. These rules don’t tie us down, but rather set us free to live life as He intended. As we do, we’ll be more and more excited to share God’s Good News with our world.
Many members make up a team. And, each has a specific role that contributes to the outcome. The success of a team is not only the success of an individual, but the team’s successes combined.
In the same way, our efforts to reach our world are not a game of solitaire. Each follower of Jesus is part of the body of Christ, as described in the Bible in 1 Corinthians. Each serves a purpose in bringing those around them to the Savior. Your position on the team may be to plant the seed - to be the first one to tell another about Jesus Christ and His love for us. Or, your job may be to water the seed - to encourage others in their spiritual life. The end goal, lives surrendered to Jesus Christ, is met when each part of the team, each part of the Body of Christ, participates in reaching their world.
Be faithful to your role in the body of Christ. Encourage your fellow believers to share their faith and share your own with boldness, knowing that you are communicating a message of Good News and great hope to a hurting world. Imagine if each of us in the body of Christ worked diligently to tell those in our world of God’s son. What a difference that would make!
When it comes to reaching our world, it is often easy to be critical of ourselves. As part of God’s team, we are asked to share our faith with others, but we can easily become discouraged if an effort isn’t successful. So what can we do to remain encouraged?
One thing I like to do is compare it to sports. Just because a play doesn’t work the first time, doesn’t mean it won’t work the second. When a soccer or football team runs a play, it sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. Just because a play doesn’t work, doesn’t mean the approach wasn’t valid; it just means they have to try it again. In the same way, if you are trying to reach out to a co-worker but they don’t seem to be responding, try again. Keep sharing. Don’t give up. You are planting seeds in their life and, eventually, will likely reap the reward you seek.
Remember, as the Word of God says, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged." As you try again, talk to our heavenly "coach" through prayer, and resolve to be determined, you will be a powerful player for God’s team - His Kingdom. Reaching your world is challenging. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t see immediate results. Just keep on being faithful.
Often when our extended family gets together, there is a sports game. We seem to have just as much fun cheering for our favorite team from the couch as we do from the stadium. After a touchdown, or a successful sprint, a final inning, or the game-winning goal, there are wild celebrations. Sports victories are great, but there is a greater team and greater victory yet.
As followers of Jesus, we’re on a team too. It’s called the Body of Christ. And, in God’s strength, we can be victorious. In Paul’s Letter to the Philippians he says "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." As part of God’s team, we are winners, but not because of what we do, not by our own strength. We are winners, we are successful, because of God’s forgiveness, God’s love, and God’s grace.
In what ways can we celebrate what God has done in our lives to make us winners? One of the main ways, I think, is to share our faith. When we tell others what God has done in our lives, we are giving Him credit and honor. By sharing our stories, and reaching out to others, we are celebrating that it is He who gives us strength. Today, let’s give God the glory and be an active participant on His team by telling another of His love.
In this powerful evangelistic message, Luis takes an honest look at many contemporary myths and reveals what the Bible teaches about what it means to be a real Christian.
For your FREE copy give us a call at 1-800-ASK-LUIS.
This week, we’ll look at lessons from the life of Jacob. The biblical record of his schemes has a lot to teach about what not to do in certain situations. But there’s more to Jacob than just a record of wrongs. This week you’ll see Jacob’s life up close and personal. And whether it’s listening to God or sharing your testimony, Jacob’s life will help you put God in His proper place on the throne of your life.
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