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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Monday, January 26, 2004 The Secret of Success |
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FRONTLINE DEVOTION FOR
MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2004, by Fritz Foltz
Bible text:
Acts 9:26-43
We have completed two of the three stages in the missionary charge Jesus gave
the apostles. The Church has been planted first in Jerusalem and second in
Judea, Samaria, and Galilee. Before we proceed to the third stage, to the ends
of the world, it might be helpful to ask why the Church has been so successful.
That should give us some clues about what we should be doing.
It would be easy to claim she has simply followed the Holy Spirit, but that does
not give us much in the way of particular help for our individual missions. Too
many people have far too many different ideas about what the Holy Spirit calls
us to do.
You can find the two elements Acts thinks are important in this passage. First,
preach boldly. As we have seen that might mean speaking the message of Jesus in
the face of opposition, even opposition that wants to kill you. As difficult as
that can be, it pays off. It finally left the enemy leaderless. It changed the
mind of its cruelest leader, Saul.
Second, perform good works. Perhaps now more than ever, we have to back up our
words with actions. In the first three Gospels Jesus says people will know us by
our fruits; in John they shall know us by our love. Today’s passage has all the
good works: healing those who are damaged, raising those who are dead, and
sharing with those who are poor.
When historians are asked why the Church was successful, they can hardly say
because she operated by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not one
of their categories. But they can analyze why the Roman Empire eventually turned
to her. And the reason many historians believe that happened was because the
Church was ministering to the needs of people, even establishing institutions,
such as hospitals, to do this. Everybody else was looking after himself or
herself.
We seem to be sinking again into a form of religion in which people look out for
their own spiritual well being. “Are you saved?” means simply “Have you taken
care of your own salvation?” There is no such isolated salvation in Acts. Being
saved always includes involvement in saving others.
I have just returned from a trip through Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation.
I was impressed by two things. The first I expected. Almost any Muslim can sum
up his or her faith in three minutes. It’s not that hard. Islam is built on five
simple practices. What I did not expect was how much they all emphasized one of
the five, almsgiving. Almsgiving is short for sharing what you have with the
poor. I must admit I was truly attracted by this trait.
We all know it. Faith without works is dead. Martin Luther certainly made his
point that we are justified by grace through faith alone. However, nobody will
be impressed and attracted unless our faith is active in love.
We are still in the third stage of Jesus’ mission charge. The program remains
the same: preach boldly and care for people.
Let us pray: Father, grant us the courage to continue Jesus’ mission, to speak
our faith without fear and to serve other people with love. Comfort us with the
Holy Spirit throughout this day that we might know peace at its end. We pray in
Jesus’ name. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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