You Are the Light of the World to Help People See Jesus

A candle shines the moment it is lit. When we become God’s children by grace through faith, He lights our spiritual candle. St. Paul’s candle shone when he preached, planned, and prayed.

God called Paul to share the gospel with the Gentiles. Not every Gentile would believe it, but some would.

Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Not all will become Jesus’ disciples, but some will.

God’s enabling grace accompanies His commands (Romans 15:15-16). We have the same grace that powered Paul’s life (2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Timothy 2:1).

Paul shared the good news about Jesus to honor and glorify God. The picture in Romans 15:16 is a priest bringing an offering to gladden God’s heart.

We make God happy when we share His good news with others. Paul’s offering to God was the Gentiles who would come to faith through his preaching. Our offering is those we have influenced for Christ during our lifetime.

Christ worked through Paul (Romans 15:18). He will also work through us. We are God’s power lines. His blessings flow through us to others. Through us, God connects with a needy world.

Christ works through our words (2 Timothy 2:2, 2 Corinthians 5:20). He also works through our loving deeds, which confirm our words. The changes Christ brings to our character and conduct are as supernatural as the instantaneous healing of the sick.

Paul planned to go to Spain. But before he went there, he wanted to go to Jerusalem. His goal was to foster unity between the Jewish and Gentile believers of the church.

He had a plan. The Gentile churches would contribute to the poor Jewish believers in Jerusalem. The word translated as “contribution” in Romans 15:26 is elsewhere in the New Testament translated as “fellowship.”

Christian fellowship is sharing the things of Christ—material things, the word, prayer, encouragement, joys, burdens, worship, etc. This contribution required considerable planning and organization.

Organizing for ministry is still relevant. The church needs both God’s life and a plan.

Our organization will not advance God’s kingdom apart from God’s grace, but disorganization is a hindrance. Paul’s candle shone brightest when he applied God’s wisdom with a plan.

Paul first requested God to deliver him from Jewish opposition in Judea. He asked the Roman Christians to pray for him persistently and earnestly.

The most effective prayers are flaming arrows released from the bow of an earnest heart. My prayers are sometimes half-hearted. I’ve room for improvement there. Do you?

Paul prayed that the Jerusalem church would receive the gift the Gentile churches gave with proper thanksgiving. You are a burning candle for Jesus, a light of the world. 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 6,090 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 15,150 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.  

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