PK’s Ponderings
Glorifying
God by Turning the World Upside Down
And when they could not find them, they dragged
Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside
down have come here also.” (Acts
17:6 ESV)
In
hushed, yet enthused amazement I read this verse this morning and pondered to
myself:
Could God use GCBC to do this again?
Could God use GCBC to turn the communities of
Moncks Corner and
What would it look like for this to happen?
What would be necessary in my life for God to use
me in this way?
These
words were uttered against Paul and his companions because “. . . for three Sabbaths
[Paul] reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence
that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This
Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.’ ” (Acts 17:2-3, NASB)
It
occurred to me that in order for the world to be turned upside down around us
for the glory of God, Paul did not have to organize a particular style of
worship service, nor did he have to promote a particularly new program recently
published out of Nashville, sorry, I meant Jerusalem, nor did he concern
himself with so crafting his messages as to be inoffensive to any seeking to
hear what he had to say. Paul simply
shared the gospel story with those with whom he was in
contact – and the upheaval ensued.
This
should give us cause for rejoicing and reassurance. We live in a day and time when so many voices
compete with what is the right thing for the church to do. We do not have to search out the latest
“thing” working for a church on the West Coast or even across town and then
necessarily, prayerlessly, mindlessly transplant it to our own location. We don’t have to get caught up in any
supposed battle between the newest music and the older liturgies. We do not
have to take surveys to find out what the majority of folks demand before being
happy with a church. We do not have to
be overly careful about keeping up appearances with those around us. Indeed, we see that Paul gave no room or
entry for pragmatism, showmanship, consumerism or self-glorification. He simply shared the gospel story with those
with whom he was in contact – and the upheaval ensued.
But
this was not without cost. If Paul had
decided to pursue keeping others happy, would God be honored and the world
turned upside down? Most
certainly not. (Proverbs 29:25; Galatians 1:10; Ephesians 6:6) If Paul had counted personal comforts more
important than sacrificing home and health for the sake of the gospel, would
God be honored and the world turned upside down? Most certainly not.
(Acts 20:24; Philippians 4:11-12; Matthew 16:24-26)
Oh,
may the Lord wrench our eyes and hearts from the rotting glitter of this world
and fix them upon Jesus! May He move us
away from being contented in this life with the knowledge that everyone likes us. Let us not be
lulled by the siren call of the world that all is “Peace! Peace! When there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 6:14) May He give us boldness, and courage and
wisdom to open our mouths and declare Christ to those around us! Are we timid?
Are we callous? Are we
disbelieving of a real Hell for those around us and near us? Then let us repent, and get back to the
privilege of sharing Christ with those around us in simple, vulnerable, patient
and loving ways so that the lives of those around us are turned upside down. May we search the Scriptures ourselves and
may we stand ready to give a defense of the hope that is within us. (1 Peter
3:15). May we be willing to go and tell
what the Lord has done for us. (Mark
Dear
believer be encouraged! The hope of
being used of God to overturn the world of sin and judgment in the lives around
us does not rest on programs and presentations but by the power of His Word and
His Spirit! And His power is at work in
us to will and to work for His good pleasure! (Philippians 2:13)
Oh
Lord, for your glory and praise, may I and the people of GCBC be used to let
the enemies of God be turned upside down into the children of God. May those
who are far off, be brought near. May
those lost in despair be turned upside down into hope through Christ. May the
hurting be turned upside down into encouragement and love. May the mockers and scoffers and unconcerned
be turned upside down into becoming the new ambassadors of Christ pleading with
former lost friends to be reconciled unto God through faith in Christ.
Oh
God, help us to be those in this generation, who for your glory and honor, and,
who armed with the transforming message of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the
power of the Holy Spirit, turn upside down the lives of our loved ones, our
neighbors, our town, our world. Let the
upheaval ensue!