Caring and sharing

[toad]

“Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealings.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

The first non-Jewish person to accept salvation and forgiveness of sins, through faith in the finished work of the cross by Jesus, was the Roman army officer Cornelius. Cornelius was a devout man who gave to the poor, prayed and fasted, all of which were to no avail in his personal life without faith in Jesus. God used an angel with Cornelius and a vision with Peter to bring together two men who had absolutely had nothing in common. Within a couple of days, Peter and Cornelius had hooked up, and Peter began to explain to Cornelius and his family Jesus Christ and what had happened before, on, and after the cross. Peter went on to tell his audience that after the resurrection of Jesus from death to life that Jesus did not appear to all men, but to only some men and women. As I study these Scripture verses this morning, I wonder why Jesus did not go on tour as the risen Savior and give all an opportunity to see Him. Share with me these words of Peter, written by Luke and found in Acts.

“And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Israel and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by crucifying him, but God raised him to life three days later. Then God allowed him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen beforehand to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is ordained of God to be the judge of all, the living and the dead.” (Acts 10:39-42 NLT)

If God wanted to get our undivided attention today He could. God could appear as a blinding light in front of every living person, with a voice that says “I am,” but my experience tells me that God doesn’t work that way even though He could. Jesus also did not appear to all, but left the message of forgiveness to be passed on from one person to another. And after over two thousand years this is still being done. There have been many divine appearances over the centuries and today God still appears, but mostly what I have experienced comes to me through others. Just as Peter told Cornelius and his family, and they received the Holy Ghost. The same principle of caring and sharing is used today in AA and NA. If God wanted He could visit each drunk and addict with a loud voice and command that they get clean and sober, but that doesn’t happen. We must pass it on from one to another. Share with me what the Dake Bible has to say about this.

“This simply means that He did not appear to the ungodly multitude that slew Him. He did not make a show of Himself and gloat before His enemies that their crucifixion did not profit them in getting rid of Him. This would have caused more confusion and rebellion. He chose such witnesses whose testimony was impeccable and who would risk their very lives to preach what they had seen and heard.” (Finis Dake)

God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself, even if it is through a still small voice in my heart. I am more than grateful for that alone…………..JRE

[cmc]

“This simply means that He did not appear to the ungodly multitude that slew Him. He did not make a show of Himself and gloat before His enemies that their crucifixion did not profit them in getting rid of Him.

Always strong and always meek at the same time.... Jesus' example to us could not be more clear. The big picture was of more eternal value than to 'show' his victory to those who wounded Him. When we know we are right about our faith or our recovery or about most anything- we need not force it upon others. Jesus chose this road- to allow His works to speak for themselves. We are the same- we may witness as God directs to the lost,but within our own sphere of influence, our work lives and family life, He is best seen in us by our actions. Following Him will naturally draw people to the Lord.
I love how this story proves the value of needing 'another'...that we cannot go it alone in this walk of faith.
thanks for this thread, toad!

[toad]

cmc wrote:
"When we know we are right about our faith or our recovery or about most anything- we need not force it upon others."

Thanks for sharing this.........I try not to preach at AA and NA meetings, but I am always willing to share Jesus when the opportunity comes up. I used to witness after the meetings with little results. I am learning to pray, and let the Holy Spirit prepare hearts to receive the Word. I have found that for myself (others are different) when I try and just walk up to someone and tell them about Jesus, they often immediately close thier mind to receiving the Word. Other people are good at this, I do not have the gift. I find myself many times watering seeds that have been sown by someone else. I do know that regardless of who sows or who waters, God will give the increase......toad

[best]

What a timely message.
Just yesterday I was thinking on the subject of witnessing to others through my actions. I can sow 100 seeds, I can water 100 seeds, and I can distroy 100 seeds. 100 at-a-boys can be wiped out with one Opps!
My prayer for the day became...
Lord help me prevent any opps from happening in my day.
Today I repeat that prayer.
People may reject the water because of the watering can. I need Jesus so that I may be a watering can that is pleasing to the eye as I deliver the water of life (Jesus) to others.
Psalm 139:
23Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.