I dare you to make me a Christian!

‘King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do!’
Agrippa said to Paul, ‘In this short time do you think you will make me a Christian?’

‘Whether a short time or a long time,’ Paul answered, ‘my prayer to God is that you and all the rest of you who are listening to me today might become what I am – except of course, for these chains!’ (verses 27-29)

Read Acts 26:24-27:8

I once had a lively discussion with a man who challenged me to convince him by logical argument that he should believe in a God who allowed wars and suffering. In other words, he challenged me to say the right thing in a short time to make him a Christian.

I entered the debate saying that I couldn’t possibly convince him. During the long conversation, he challenged me with good logical arguments and I answered with my simple faith. I patiently listened to him and talked about what I believed, never trying to force him to make a decision. After all, it was God alone who could convince him and lead him to faith, not me.

Sometimes we have to let go of our own strength, our own cleverness and our own desire for instant success in bringing others to faith. Where we end, God begins, and he can and will act on those he chooses. Our prayer is that all who listen to us and watch us will become what we are: believing children of God, chained to the freedom we have in Christ.

Dear God, give me the words to witness boldly, but also hold my tongue when I show too much of myself and not enough of you and your love. Amen.

by Stuart Kleinig, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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