Christian Influencers Are Achieving Their God-Ordained Purposes

Do you believe God can use you? In the early 1970s, Blair Cook would often sit in a bar in State College, Pennsylvania, on most weekend evenings. He was well-educated but had no time for Christianity. He was looking for fun. That’s all. But he did not remain what he was. Neither should you.

Become what you are meant to be. Colossians 4:7-18 highlights people who were doing just that.

Each began alienated from God and captive to their own self-will. They were dead in their sins and without God’s life. But look how far Paul’s companions in Rome had come.

Tychicus was Paul’s beloved brother. He was a faithful servant. He did not compete with Paul. He listened. He sacrificed. He encouraged. He bore Paul’s burdens. Like him, you achieve your potential by serving. You are never more like Jesus than when you serve others.

Onesimus was Paul’s faithful and beloved brother. But he was not always. In Philemon, we learn he was an AWOL slave. A runaway slave was unfaithful and not highly esteemed. In Rome, Onesimus found both Paul and Paul’s Savior. He became useful to both Paul and Philemon (Philemon 11). Jesus transformed His life.

Before Aristarchus became a Christian, he was consumed by self-interest. Many believe that he accompanied Paul on his sea journey to Rome and was imprisoned there with him (Colossians 4:10). By becoming a captive of Christ, Aristarchus achieved his potential.

John Mark received an F on his first major ministry test. During Paul’s first missionary journey, John Mark defected at Perga. Barnabas and Peter helped develop his spiritual strength. He eventually authored the Gospel According to Mark.

Jesus Justus was faithful to Christ despite the hostile Jews rejecting him in Rome. That earned him a place in Paul’s heart. His name is part of sacred Scripture. It would be pretty cool to have your name there, right?

Epaphras was the evangelist and founder of the Colossian church. Years later, he still agonized in prayer on their behalf. He wanted them to become mature Christians who knew and did God’s will. He achieved his potential.

Blair Cook led my Bible study in the mid-1970s. Through his influence, I committed myself to vocational Christian service. So did three others in the Bible study.

Blair was the Associate Executive Director of the International School Project (ISP) of CRU. ISP operates in developing countries and empowers educators to influence for Christ their students, colleagues, and students' parents.

Through the ISP, Blair influenced hundreds of thousands of people for Christ. He achieved his potential. By His grace, God will empower you to do the same. What is your takeaway?

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God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 6,671 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 15,636 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting. 

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