Each of us on average has 600 friends—people we know, who’d recognize us if we found ourselves standing next to each other at the airport. Among your 600 friends are many people who don’t go to church or believe in Jesus. In that group of people, studies show that 80% of them are open and receptive to an invitation to church.
So, who brings them, you or God? Whose work is this? Is inviting people to connect with Jesus and the church your work, or God’s work?
Jesus gives us the answer! Jesus is on his mission, doing the work, teaching his disciples, healing the sick, raising the dead, and the hardest work of all—he’s going to suffer and die as a willing sacrifice to pay for the sins of the world. Whose work is this? Listen to what he says.
“Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work” (John 14:10).
While on vacation I spent time at a cabin with my sons, daughters-in-law, and grandkids. When one of my granddaughters would ask me, “Papi, can we go for a walk? … Papi, can we blow bubbles? Papi, can we have a snack?” I’d say, “We need to ask your mom or dad.” Then whether yes or no, and I’d have full assurance when telling them the answer that it was the right one and had authority.
Whose answer was it? Mom or dad’s answer and also my answer. Jesus spoke with full assurance that his words had power and were perfect because of a higher authority. His Father. “I do not speak on my own authority.” Even Jesus, the Son of God, doesn’t work alone but with God the Father “who is doing his work.”
God the Father isn’t speaking, but Jesus is. Jesus isn’t giving his works his own authority, but appealing to his Father.
Who is speaking when you invite someone to connect with Jesus and church? You are. God’s voice doesn’t thunder down from heaven, rattle the roof and say to your friend, “Get to church this Sunday!”
God can certainly do that but has made it clear that he wants you to speak to others (without the thunder). That’s your job, your work, not his.
Whose authority is behind the words? Who gives the words you speak power and makes them effective in supernatural ways? God does. And even with a special thunder and fire and wind of his Spirit that nobody hears, but it’s working. That’s his work, not yours.
So, with confidence that God is at work in your words, and joy of being assigned as his spokesperson, go invite others.
It’s not just God’s job. It’s not just your job.
PRAYER: Dear God, I want to stop waiting for you to do work that you want me to do. Give me clarity, courage and compassion to invite others to believe in Jesus and connect with church. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Slow down, and use the PRAY acronym.
- Praise (tell God what you appreciate about his promises and work)
- Repent (tell God about your sins of expecting him to do your job, trust in his promises of forgiveness)
- Ask (go ahead, think big, or focus on a small detail, God wants to hear it all)
- Yield (talk to God about the next step after you say “Amen,” how you want faith to lead the way, how you are willing to be part of his answer and see it develop for your good)