the pull to not…
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Last Sunday afternoon, I had determined to go out down our street and invite women to a party I am hosting in early December. it had seemed like a good plan! The party is to have a threefold purpose: to get the women of the street together; to raise money for Open hands through selling Beauty for Ashes products and to enable me to invite people who live near us to “Christmas in 60 Minutes”- an event I am sure they will enjoy, and which I hope and pray will help introduce them to Jesus.
As I said, when I thought about this, it seemed like a great idea. Having finished a busy morning at church, eaten lunch and, and seeing David settling for a snooze and the early onset of a dusky November evening, I sensed a “pull”…
It’s a pull most of us feel from time to time- the ‘pull to not’…to not bother, to not take the opportunity, to not respond to the whispers of the Holy Spirit. And it is strong. Especially the pull not to speak out for Jesus, for justice, in love, in invitation…
What holds us back? Fear, lack of confidence, laziness, apathy, voices from our past, discouragement. Whatever it is, I want to remember (and I urge you to as well) that we have one life to live. And our voice is worth listening to. And we have the best message in the world to share.
When Paul had already faced insults and opposition, as well as success in his ministry in Corinth, he was in need of encouragement. Jesus Himself spoke to him in a night time vision:
Do not be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.
Acts 18:10
For the sake of Leicester, and the many people who belong to Jesus and are not yet “reached”, let’s be a bit bolder. Let’s keep on speaking. Let’s speak more. Let’s ignore the pull to not…
I went down the street. I had some good chats with some people. There are a few more to invite. I’ll let you know how the party goes!