Tom Hodges, Director of Student Ministries

Day One Proclaimer
THE GIFT

Read Ephesians 1:3-7
It was one of those Christmas mornings when you wake up with excitement at what might be under the tree and then you go out and your parents are sleepy and want their coffee, and when everyone is ready…it was time! I sat there with anticipation at what would be coming my way…I thought about all the things I had asked for and wondered what percentage of those things I would actually end up with. As Mom reached for the first present, she turned and asked me the same question she and dad always asked, in the name of Santa, “Have you been a good boy this year?”

If I were made to answer that question truthfully on any given Christmas morning, I may not have received nearly as many gifts as my parents usually lavished upon me. If they were to keep an account then pull it out that morning and give me gifts based upon my “behavior ledger,” I would have felt like one of Bob Cratchet’s children. But, “praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms…,” that my parents kept no record of wrong or right after I said my apologies. Thank God that they would forgive and not remember my transgressions on Christmas morning as they lavished gifts upon me.

So it is with Jesus! His forgiving grace keeps no record of wrongs. There is no “sin ledger” when you accept this free gift that He wants to lavish upon you! Have you made the decision to accept this kind of gift? Isn’t God’s gift of grace something that is better than any Christmas gift you have ever received? Think of it…every morning you awaken is like Christmas morning because each new day is a day living inside that gift!

Reflect: Have you accepted God’s gift of grace and forgiveness? If you have accepted it, what are you doing with this great gift?
Pray: Father, I know that I have sinned against you. Please forgive me and help me lead others to this incredible place of grace. Amen.

Read Luke 5:1-11
I remember the first time I ever did a “trust fall” at camp. You were to stand on a picnic table and cross your arms over your chest and close your eyes and fall backwards. I remember saying, “Are you crazy?!” We were supposed to fall back into people’s arms and trust, hope and pray they would catch us. When my turn came, I can recall feeling afraid and a bit doubtful. Yeah, I knew all these people in my youth group, but did I know them enough? Could I trust them with this? The only way to find out was to do it and so I did. They caught me and it taught me a lot about blind trust. It’s not always easy for us to trust in that way, but when they told me to fall backwards, though I hesitated, eventually I did it and they held up their end of the bargain.

When Jesus called His disciples, I’m sure they were a bit scared. Here was someone they didn’t even know, and He appears and tells them to cast nets where they have already failed at catching fish. But they trusted this man and “closed their eyes and fell backward.” Then they experienced his faithfulness in the catch they brought in. And so, each time He asked something of them, it became a little easier. And their trust in Jesus enabled them to later proclaim the good news and start the Church.

Jesus has called each of us to be his disciples. Jesus is asking us to join Him on this journey of faith. Once we have accepted His grace, He wants us to trust Him and be about His business. Sometimes it’s scary! But each time we are obedient and decide to trust in this person, Jesus, we grow more confident with and in Him, so that the next time He asks something of us, it will be easier.

Reflect: Could you call yourself His disciple? What would it take for you to trust Jesus with all your being to lead you into places and situations that may seem scary? Do you trust Him?
Pray: Jesus, I’m scared of what lies ahead. But by your leading and by the things I have experienced with you in the past, I will forge ahead and be obedient and trust you to always be there for me. Amen.

Read Acts 7:54-60
In Lloyd Douglass’ book, The Robe, one scene stands out for me. It is the one where Stephen is standing outside a weaver’s shop and speaking to the leaders in Jerusalem. He is admonishing them about what they did to Jesus and what they are now doing to his followers. The leaders, among whom is Paul, eventually cry out for Stephen’s death. They begin to stone him and Marcellus, a Roman Tribune who is dealing with his belief or unbelief in Jesus, sees Stephen die. But then, Stephen’s eyes open again and he proclaims that he sees Jesus there to accept him into heaven. This is the moment in which Marcellus’ faith in Jesus is sealed.

Stephen was the faith’s first martyr because he believed in and loved Jesus with an incredible strength and focus and conviction. We are not persecuted in this country like the early Christians were, yet we still struggle to relay our belief to those around us. Jesus gave us all a commission before He left us. He told us to “go into all the world and make other disciples.” Are we? As His disciples, are we under any less obligation to build relationships with other believers and non-believers and share the Gospel? We might be called names like “Jesus freak,” or “Bible thumper,” but what is that compared to stoning? If only we had a fraction of the strength and conviction of Stephen, we could change our world. But Stephen was not acting on his own strength and neither do we! As Paul said in Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (NIV) Go and make relationships and tell people about God’s good grace and make disciples of all you see! (My translation of the Great Commission.)

Reflect: Can you think of someone who needs Jesus? This week, try to share your faith journey with someone and see if you have the strength to be obedient to the Great Commission.
Pray: Lord, I want to share my faith, but I’m afraid of what people will say or think. Help me focus only on you and what you think of me, and not on what others say. Help me love you strongly enough to serve you in this way, faithfully, as you have always been to me. Amen.

Read Acts 9:19b
We were going on a mission trip to Syracuse, New York during the summer of 1986. Our youth choir would do concerts and during the day we would lead a Vacation Bible School. Before we were to go, our Youth Pastor said that we would have to complete a 20 week study called, “The Youth Disciple.” One of the last chapters was, “How to share your faith.” I had never done that before and I was a bit reticent to do such a thing. But as we learned how, it seemed pretty easy…until we had to do it! Then, it wasn’t so easy! But each time I did it, it did get a little easier as I grew in confidence. Later, as I came into ministry, I remembered my experiences that summer and as I taught others how to share their faith, I did so with understanding and compassion.

Sharing your faith is not easy…teaching others can be almost as daunting. There are many ways to learn how to share your faith…they may be as “cold calls” where you knock on someone’s door you don’t know, or it may be at dinner with your family. One method has always been easy for me: sharing within the framework of a relationship. These people know you and have come to see how you deal with life, and in a sense, you have earned the right to be heard on matters of faith. But, no matter the method you use, it is important to always be aware of opportunities to teach others how to share their faith. This is also part of the Great Commission! “…and make disciples…” Paul first had to learn of Jesus’ forgiveness, then he had to learn how to be a disciple. Then he used his talents to teach others the same. This is “The Sharing.” The sharing of knowledge and experience. Don’t keep it to yourself…teach others how to do the same and let them experience the joy of sharing the gospel of Christ.

Reflect: Can you think of someone who would like to learn how to share Jesus? Maybe they just need someone to help them learn how to do “The Sharing.” Are you the one to help?
Pray: Lord, reveal to me someone who needs help in learning how to share their faith in you. Give me the wisdom to impart to that person so that they may also experience the joy in serving you this way. Amen.

Read Acts 11:1-18
Have you ever had the feeling that God was asking you to do something for someone you really did not like? Maybe God wanted you to speak to this person or invite them to something and you were thinking that maybe you heard God wrong. God couldn’t expect you to speak to this person! You don’t even want to be around them, much less speak to them! Yet, God has a sense of humor about these things, I think.

This is the scene that Peter finds himself in while in Caesarea. Peter was a Jew! He didn’t consort with “those Gentile people.” Yet God instructs Peter to begin sharing the faith with “those people.” Peter had to be taught that everyone needs Jesus…even the people he did not like or want to be around. Look at verse 18. When they understood what it was that God was saying, they were obedient and went and did as they were instructed to do.

They have a saying in the armed services: “you don’t have to like it, you just have to do it.” That is basically what God was saying to Peter. God wants us to “go into all the world…” Not just the parts of the world we like or the ones we would feel comfortable in, but to all of it! God is asking us to get out of our comfort zone and take on a life of living dangerously (not recklessly) for Him. I don’t mean to imply that we should all go to a dangerous country and share our faith that way. That may not be what you have been called to do, but if it is, be obedient. But there is probably some area of your life in which you feel uncomfortable sharing your faith…and I say, ask God if that is the place you should be! Go where He directs and share fearlessly knowing that the God of the universe who is immeasurably able to deal with all that you will face, goes with you. Trust! Faith! Obedience! Go!

Reflect: Look deep within yourself and see if you are living dangerously in the hands of God. Do you trust God to help you and support you in “The Going?”
Pray: God, with whom do you want me to share this week? If it be someone I don’t like or someplace I feel afraid, please give me the trust, faith, and obedience to just go! Amen.