When The Ordinary Became Extraordinary
December 21, 2024
Opening the heart
August 04, 2018
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region …And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. - ACTS 13:48-49; 16:14
There are two sides to every door. On one side of Heaven’s gates is a sign, reading, “Whosever will may come.” The other side bears the words, “Chosen from the foundation of the world.” Paul preached the Gospel at Antioch, and the Bible reports people rejoiced, and those who had been “appointed” believed. (ACTS 13:48) “Appointed” means assigned to a particular place. God enrolled those who believed, in His Book of Life.
(REVELATION 21:27)
The spreading of the word of God was the human side of the door. People can’t believe in something they haven’t heard about. Those we “nominate” through our witness, God “elects.” God Himself opens the heart to belief. Our mission is not batter down the doors of people’s hearts, but to announce to them Christ’s salvation. That’s the meaning of “preach,” or “proclaim.”
Don’t hold back your witness because you don’t know the “elect.” Your mission is to share and its God’s work to open the heart.
TODAY’S FOCUS
Ask God to lay on your heart specific people with whom you need to share the Gospel, and to give you the opportunity and strength to do so.
