For Heaven's Sake

This is my article from this month's church newsletter...

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There's a saying, "Too heavenly minded to be any earthly good." But if you turn that phrase around, you could ask, "What on earth are you doing for Heaven's sake?" I think God asks that about us sometimes. As believers, what are we doing to spread the Gospel?

God gave us the Great Commission and commanded us to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. ... and make disciples of all the nations.”

I wondered how I, a believer in Jesus Christ, can fulfill this commandment. I likely will never travel the world. I have difficulty even speaking. So what can I do to take the Gospel into the world? What can any of us do?

There's a lot we can do if we just let God use us. God has given each of us an assignment in life, and He's given us the gifts and abilities to complete our assignment. But we have to be willing to do the work. We have to step out and do what He's called us to do.

Romans 12:6 says, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." The Bible then says if your gift is teaching, then teach. If it is serving, then serve. If it is encouraging, encourage. If it is helping to meet the needs of others, then give generously. If it is leadership, then govern diligently. If it is showing mercy, do it cheerfully.

Every believer has at least one gift, but ALL believers are called to be a witness.

God wants to use His people to touch the lives of our friends, our family, our co-workers. He wants to use us to change our generation. This means stepping out to do what God has called us to do.

For me, it might be sharing the Gospel by writing in the newsletter or in a blog. For someone else, it might be witnessing to someone in the aisles of the grocery store. And for someone else, it might be visiting a sick friend in the hospital.

The point is, we must be busy using the talents and abilities God gave us instead of being idle and hoping someone else will witness to that friend. We have opportunities every day to reach out to others. If we fail to do our assigned tasks, not only will we miss out on a blessing but someone else might miss out on heaven.

Only you can complete the assignment God has for you, so let's get busy to make a difference for Heaven's sake!