Are You Doing Your Part? :: By Nathele Graham

Many people feel inadequate as if they are living hum-drum lives that just don’t matter. I can tell you with certainty that you do matter. You matter to God. Too often we feel that if we haven’t done great things, then we just aren’t doing anything. That isn’t true.

Think of Billy Graham. He went around the world holding crusades, speaking to large crowds, and sharing the Gospel. Did you ever wonder about the people who heard his message? I’m sure there were plenty of people who heard him speak, but the message fell on deaf ears, or maybe they were full of hope and joy at first, but then they returned to old ways and turned away. I personally know two people who attended one of the crusades and gave their lives to Christ. Now, these people haven’t gone out and held their own crusades, but their faith is strong, and they have made a difference in their own community. There are many people in Scripture who did just that; they made a difference in their own family and community.

Many people followed Christ, but we don’t know much about most of them. We know of the twelve disciples. Even Judas is remembered for his betrayal of Christ. He heard the Gospel just like John and the others, but if anybody on the outside judged Christianity by the actions of Judas, they get the wrong idea. He may have physically followed Jesus, but his heart was far from following.

Many things have been done in the name of Christianity that are wrong and don’t represent the truth of the Gospel. These things hinder God’s plan. Even you can hinder His work through your treatment of others. Instead of finding fault with others, it’s better to love them with a Godly love.

Jesus was asked about the great commandment in the law. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40).

If Christians would just follow these two commandments, we would all make a difference for Christ. We might even influence someone to do great things in the name of the Lord.

We all know the story of Saul, later known as Paul, who was filled with hatred toward those who followed Christ. He was feared by those early Christians who fled from Jerusalem to escape from his hatred and persecution.

“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2).

Saul’s plans were interrupted by Jesus. Saul saw a bright light and heard the voice of Jesus. That encounter left him blind, but his heart was changed. His companions took him to Damascus. For three days he didn’t eat or drink. What was he to do? There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and God chose him for a frightening task. Ananias was to go find Saul and care for him.

“Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name” (Acts 9:13-14).

What if Ananias had refused to do the Lord’s bidding? He had every reason to fear Saul, but this man chose to do the Lord’s bidding. Ananias was obedient. He didn’t seek fame and glory but just did his part to serve the Lord. Because Ananias did his part, Saul became a Christian, known as Paul. His missionary work brought many to Christ, and he wrote letters that we treasure today.

Parents and grandparents have a special calling to lay a solid foundation of Christ for their children and grandchildren to build their lives upon. The job isn’t always easy, especially with public schools and the social media evil of today, but God wants men who are fearless in their role as husbands and fathers and women who are not ashamed to be wives and mothers to stand up and do their part for Christ. In his travels, Paul met Lois and Eunice. They were the grandmother and mother of Timothy. Paul was impressed with the faith of Timothy and made a point to mention the ladies in his life and their influence on him.

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also” (2 Timothy 1:5).

Paul took Timothy under his wing, and they traveled on missionary journeys together. Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to straighten out the false teachings there and be a pastor. The letters to Timothy should be required for every pastor to fully understand. If God has blessed you to be a wife and mother, take that calling seriously. Your faith may influence your husband, and it will establish a firm foundation for your children.

Paul and Silas were called to travel to Philippi. On the Sabbath, they went to the riverside where they knew a prayer meeting was taking place. They sat down and spoke with a group of women who prayed there.

“And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul” (Acts 16:14).

Lydia came to know Jesus that day and was baptized, along with her household. She didn’t keep her faith to herself but wanted all of her household to be saved, and they were. Then she set about doing her part for the Lord. As a woman, she was not to lead a church, but she did what she could. She opened her house for Paul and Silas to stay there. We don’t all have the same part to play in God’s plan, but we all have the ability to do something for Him.

Much happened to Paul and Silas in Philippi. A possessed woman followed them around, mocking them and God. Paul cast the demon out, but they were arrested, beaten, and chained in a dungeon for this kindness. How could they possibly witness for Christ in prison? They sang hymns and prayed.

The other prisoners heard and were influenced by this testimony of faith. When an earthquake happened, the prison doors were opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners; none of them escaped. The jailer would have been punished if they had escaped. When the jailer found out all the prisoners were there, his heart softened, and he tended to the wounds of Paul and Silas. More than that, he came to Jesus.

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house” (Acts 16:30-32).

This jailer came to faith because Paul and Silas praised God even though they were in prison. Because the jailer came to faith, his entire household heard the Gospel message and also came to faith. Paul and Silas were just doing their part, and many others were saved. Isn’t that what we all should do? No matter what our circumstances, we need to praise the Lord so others will see. Then be ready to give answers to their questions. If we hide our faith, we aren’t doing our part.

Think of the people in your life who have influenced your faith. Each one did their part. Not everyone has an encounter with Jesus in the way that Paul did, but everybody must hear the Gospel in order to believe.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:13-17).

You need to do your part by sharing the Gospel. That doesn’t mean you have to go to the deepest, darkest jungles to spread the Gospel. You have family and friends who may not have heard God’s truth. There are two ways you can do your part. You can talk to them. Speak words in love and share your faith. Or you can show your faith by how you conduct your life.

“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20). It is possible to say many words proclaiming your faith but then deny your faith by your actions.

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). Do your part by speaking your faith as well as living your faith.

There are many more examples of how people came to faith. Many people followed Jesus and had faith in Him. Look up and study how Zacchaeus did his part and showed his newfound faith by returning what he had stolen (Luke 19:2-10), or how Mary Magdalene, who was possessed by seven devils which Jesus had cast out (Mark 16:9), showed her faith. What about the man in Gadara who was possessed by a legion of demons? (Luke 8:26-39). What a testimony these people had!

There are many more whose lives were changed by Jesus. If they hadn’t done their part, Christianity would have ended long ago. We all need to do our part today. We are living in the end of days, and the more people we can share the Gospel with, the better. Christ is the only way to eternal life. We need to speak the truth in love in order to do our part for the Kingdom of God.

Are you doing your part?

God bless you all

Nathele Graham
[email protected]
Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos” God-breathed.

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