Discover who you're called to reach
Friday 7th September 2018
'How is it that each of us hears them in our native language?' Acts 2:8 NIV
The Bible tells us: '[The disciples] were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages by the power the Holy Spirit was giving them. There were some religious Jews staying in Jerusalem...each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were completely amazed at this. They said, "Look! Aren't all these people that we hear speaking from Galilee? Then how is it possible that we each hear them in our own languages"' (Acts 2:4-8 NCV)? What they were witnessing was fulfilment of an Old Testament prophesy: 'I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people' (Joel 2:28 NCV).
What can we learn from this? When we're filled with God's Spirit, he'll equip each of us to reach a specific kind of person or group of people in a way they'll understand. Psalm 33:15 (NKJV) says: 'He fashions [our] hearts individually.' God doesn't ask each of us to reach every type of person. Instead, he's created us to have a heart for certain groups.
To find out who you're meant to reach out to, think about: (1) Who do you find it easy to talk to? Children, youth, women, business people? (2) Who do you feel the most compassion for? It might be homeless people, asylum seekers, victims of violence. Chances are your answers are where your heart and calling lie.
So what now? When you've considered these two questions, talk to your pastor or a trusted Christian about where you feel God's leading you.
Friday 7th September 2018
'How is it that each of us hears them in our native language?' Acts 2:8 NIV
The Bible tells us: '[The disciples] were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages by the power the Holy Spirit was giving them. There were some religious Jews staying in Jerusalem...each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were completely amazed at this. They said, "Look! Aren't all these people that we hear speaking from Galilee? Then how is it possible that we each hear them in our own languages"' (Acts 2:4-8 NCV)? What they were witnessing was fulfilment of an Old Testament prophesy: 'I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people' (Joel 2:28 NCV).
What can we learn from this? When we're filled with God's Spirit, he'll equip each of us to reach a specific kind of person or group of people in a way they'll understand. Psalm 33:15 (NKJV) says: 'He fashions [our] hearts individually.' God doesn't ask each of us to reach every type of person. Instead, he's created us to have a heart for certain groups.
To find out who you're meant to reach out to, think about: (1) Who do you find it easy to talk to? Children, youth, women, business people? (2) Who do you feel the most compassion for? It might be homeless people, asylum seekers, victims of violence. Chances are your answers are where your heart and calling lie.
So what now? When you've considered these two questions, talk to your pastor or a trusted Christian about where you feel God's leading you.
