Today's Word
Growing Up part three

“King Agrippa said unto Paul, 'Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian'”
Acts 26:28 (KJV)


Today’s Reflection

“Almost”

One day I was driving home from a visit to Urban Promise, Wilmington, a ministry to inner city youth, of whom 80% of the males are headed for incarceration unless there is outside intervention. Dozens of men and women volunteer and several are paid meager wages to do this ministry. As I drove, thinking about the lifestyle sacrifice they are making, I had the thought, “I wonder if I’m really a Christian?”

Nor was this thought a simple guilt trip that could be remedied by volunteering more, sacrificing more, or giving more. It was a simple recognition of the realities of Matthew 25 and Jesus’ teaching that Christians “take up their cross and follow him”.

I think my question in the car that day was a good one as long as it does not leave us immobilized with guilt, rather prods us to the desire to the “real deal”

Agrippa said, “almost” and it may be that that moment fixed his destiny. “Almost”, I fear, is Agrippa’s legacy. Don’t let it be yours.

The following thoughts from CS Lewis are worth pondering.

“Now is our chance to choose the right side. It won’t last forever. We must take it . . . or leave it”

“God doesn’t want something from us, He simply wants us”

“We may think God wants actions of a certain kind, but God wants people of a certain sort”

“Until you have given yourself up to Him, you will not have a real self”

“The road to the promised land runs past Sinai”


Today’s Prayer

“Lord, I fear the word “almost”. Lord, if need be, shake me out of my complacency and willingness to settle for less than the life you came to offer. Open my eyes to your next steps for me. Give me the discernment to see the difference between your leading and my thinking. And give me the courage to just say “yes” to that leading, jump in and let the chips fall where they may. Because you control the chips. In Christ’s Name. Amen"