In Diametric Opposition…

Selfishness and the Gospel are in diametric opposition with each other. You can’t spread the Gospel from a self-centered point of view. It won’t work. Have you ever tried? I’ve shared the Gospel with certain people and it was met with certain resistance. I wanted them so badly to accept the truth, but for some reason they wouldn’t. I left the conversation a little angry. I was frustrated. I was disappointed. The Gospel was never meant to be forced on people. It’s to be presented in a loving manner, but never watered down. I’ve had experiences where I just spoke truth with no motive behind it, and the recipient received it with joy. It’s all about the condition of the heart. We can’t fix someone else’s b broken heart, we can only speak truth into it, truth that comes from our heart, selfless in motive, full of real love and concern for others. God does the changing. The condition of our heart is the one and only factor that determines the effectiveness of your witness, the Gospel. God is the One Who does the changing. God can use stones to cry out, He doesn’t need us to do it. However, He chooses us to be the main conduit in which the Gospel is presented to the world, for we are His image bearers. And it’s the condition of our heart that determines how effective witness we will be. Selfishness has no part in this process. How’s your heart today?

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. 19 “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!”20 But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! 21 You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. 22 Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive your evil thoughts, 23 for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.”24 “Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!” Acts 8:18-24