“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” ( Romans 10:14).
The story of Christianity starts with Christ followers pursued and persecuted. The first recorded martyr after the crucifixion of Christ was Stephen. “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep” ( Acts 7: 59-60). More important to note the ring leader who presided over this execution was none other than Saul. “And Saul approved of their killing him” (Acts 8:1). Only later on, after a miraculous conversion, Saul turned into Paul, to win souls for Christ( Acts 9).
As the disciples of Christ spread beyond Jerusalem they met targeted attacks. Christ followers would be thrown over into dens of lions and made a spectacle to jeering crowds. But yet followers kept multplying. Eventually, quite overwhelmed, the Roman Empire decided to abandon its own pagan gods and embrace Christianity under the reign of Emperor Constatine.
Because it was now a state religion the Roman Empire decided to force conversation of their territories through crusaders. This was against the commands of Christ. Up to that point Christianity had not been growing through force. Christianity had grown because of the irresistable power of the Holy Spirit to bring conversation to the lost through repetance and acknowlegdment of Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Today we should not loose sight of this history. Just before he left Christ cautioned his followers “And whoever shall not receive you or hear your words, shake off the dust of your feet when you depart from that house, or that city” ( Acts 10:14). All he was saying do your part and let the Holy Spirit finish His business. It is not you who saves people but God, after all. “For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion” ( Romans 9:15)
Do your part, pray and leave the rest to God!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today help me through the power of the Holy Spirit share your Gospel of salvation and let you bring those you will to salvation, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
