“Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, ‘In a favourable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the favourable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Leading people to faith in Jesus is something you and God do together!
Look at the first phrase of this passage: “working together with him [God]”. Think about what that phrase expresses. What does it reveal about how God changes people’s lives and reaches out to them?
There is a “working together” that is necessary. The beginning and end of it is God, but somewhere in the mix is us responding to God, getting involved in people’s lives and calling them to receive his love, grace and forgiveness.
God prompts us to share about him with someone in our lives. We respond by starting a spiritual conversation with them. God then opens the door in that conversation for us to share the gospel. At the same time he is working in their hearts to help them see that he is reaching out to them through us. This may happen a number of times in the relationship as the person moves towards God over time. When they put their faith in God, he sends his Holy Spirit into their lives and begins his work of transforming them from the inside out to be like Jesus.
God starts it all and finishes it all and is the one at work through us as we speak out for him. But we are still part of the process. Our part is not huge, but it is so important. God wants to reach into the lives of people around you. Will you work together with him to share with them about his love and grace?
Let God know that you want to partner with him and that you are available for the part you need to play in his work of rescuing people from the darkness and brokenness of this world.
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