It’s Not Your Business…Conversion is God’s Work

03.08.2023

 

Written by:

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1st Vice President

Florida-Georgia District

Atlanta, GA

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Daring to Make a Difference... Let's Talk About Jesus!

Just as a candle in a dark room is easily seen and draws the attention of all who are around, even faith the size of a mustard seed, when planted, can make an eternal difference in the lives of the lost and those who love them.

So, the theme of our 2023 FLGA Lenten Devotions is: Daring to Make a Difference…Let’s Talk about Jesus! May the Lord use these daily devotions from Ash Wednesday through Easter to encourage, engage and equip you to make an eternal difference!

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39) For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Acts 2:38-39

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” (27) And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, (28) for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:26-28

 

When I attend concerts, I am often amazed by the volume of the music. It is very loud, sometimes I think too loud, so I move away from the speakers because hearing the music does not always get better with more volume. Louder is not always better especially for a smooth jazz man.

One summer, on a hot, very hot Georgia afternoon, we put out very small wading pools on the church lawn and invited congregation and neighborhood children to come and play in the water. We also had a slip and slide, water balloons, and water guns. We grilled a few hot dogs, had some juice boxes and watermelon. You would have thought they had an Olympic sized pool with 10 feet of water. They had a fun time. It was so well received that we did it many times that summer and had more little pools and slides every time that were given by church members. No one said we need more water. More is not always necessary or better.

This makes little sense in our world in which we are constantly told to pump up the volume, be more assertive, get more done, and press in on the issue. We are told more is better and people are attracted to large, gregarious acts so impose yourself and make yourself known. That is worldly wisdom, but not the way of God or His children.

When our Father goes to work it is amazing. Our Father is not always loud and intrusive. Sometimes it is a still small voice and a whisper. The important thing is that you can hear, and that hearing will impart, sustain, and increase your faith. Our Father is sometimes very economical and provides what seems to be a little, perhaps just a crumb from His banquet table, but little becomes much with the Master’s touch.

We are reminded in this day, that our God does amazing things with what may seem insignificant to us. A few loaves and fishes, a crumb from the broken loaf, a drop from the chalice of wine, a trial, a cross, a borrowed, now empty tomb. Little, everyday things that defy our understanding. It is beyond comprehension because it is not our business, not our work, not our increase. Hearing, feeding, salvation, an increase of faith, even conversion is God’s work not based on the volume, the amount of the resource or anything else we may supply.

So, we take our Lenten little, our wanton whisper, our consecrated crumb, our dedicated drop, in humility, without fanfare, and dedicate it to our gracious God, understanding that how it will be used and increased to bless others is not our business. Increase and conversion is the work of our Father who has deigned by grace and favor to allow us to use our little, seemingly insignificant gifts to His great glory.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we bless and thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you, Lord, for coming in this season to save us from the wages of sin, hell, and death and touching us and all that we are and have so that our little can result in great increase, salvation, conversion for the sake of Your Kingdom. How you do it is Your business, not ours. Amen.