Read: Romans 15:14-21
I make it my ambition to preach the gospel. (v. 20)
Chances are good that God has placed people around you that do not yet believe in Jesus. How might God involve you in sharing the gospel with them? In verses 18 and 19, Paul describes a threefold pattern of his experience in leading people to Christ: “by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.” This is the pattern Jesus gave the disciples in Luke 10, it’s the pattern of Paul’s journey through Acts, and it’s seen the world over today.
On nearly every trip to Uganda, I see this pattern fit almost exactly to Paul’s description. God’s Word is shared in worship and meeting personal needs of people. The Ugandan leaders pray with expectant hearts that God will be present in powerful ways, and God is! And the Spirit leads people to faith in Jesus. I’ve seen the same in Niger and India and Bhutan. Those of us living in North America have much we can learn from the Christian experience of sisters and brothers around the world.
We cannot manipulate God’s Holy Spirit to perform wonders, and we cannot make people become Christians. Only God’s sovereign power can do that. We can, however, make it our ambition to share the good news in our words and in our actions of love towards others, praying expectantly for the Holy Spirit to do what only God can do. Whom will God have you share Christ with today? —Jon Opgenorth
As you pray, ask God for ambition to share Christ.
About the Author
Rev. Jon Opgenorth serves as president of Words of Hope. Previously, he served for 18 years as senior pastor at Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City, Iowa. In preparation for ministry, he received a BA in Religion from Northwestern College, and an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary.
