YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD WILL DO WITH YOUR SPORTS MINISTRY! Do you remember the story of Stephen (ACTS 7)? He preached the truth about Jesus and they stoned him. One stone hit the side of Stephen’s face and blood began to flow. And he fell to the ground, and then another, and then another, and then another, until finally he died, and his friends eventually pulled his body out from a pile of stones and carried him to his burial place, I often think those friends must have been asking, “Why? What a terrible, terrible waste. What a terrible, terrible waste.” Luke writes that there was a guy standing there called Saul of Tarsus taking care of the coats of the stone throwers. Shortly after that experience – on a roadside, Jesus appears to him - Paul never forgot the voice from heaven that asked him, “Why do you persecute Me?” Not, “Why did you persecute Stephen, but why do you persecute Me?” Stephen’s death affected Saul – whose name was changed to PAUL - who led many to Christ, who started many churches, who wrote many New Testament books in our Bible that we read today! Before Stephens death – Stephen did not know how his sermon and dying would affect the world – so many people were affected by that sermon! You don't know what God will do with your ministry - trust in God's *Providence and stay faithful! *Westminster Confession of Faith Larger Catechism Q. 18. What are God’s works of providence? A. God’s works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures; ordering them, and all their actions, to his own glory.

Posted by Ken Cross at 2022-01-04 04:08:43 UTC