I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with fellow brethren (and sisteren too!) yesterday at the annual meeting of the BMA of the Ozarks. I preached in the morning and the people responded very warmly to the message. I also got to see a couple of friends that are outside this area. I think people in ministry need these kinds of opportunities to get together to talk, share, and fellowship. I do have a suggestion, however, for all who will listen…
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I grew up in a staunchly conservative Southern Baptist church, where I first heard the gospel and received Christ as my Savior. I was baptized by Doug Riley, a man who was committed to the faithful proclamation of God’s inerrant Word. Many of my heroes in the faith are or were Southern Baptist leaders.
I have benefitted greatly from W. A. Criswell’s heart for the preaching of the Word of God in its perfect entirety. I’ve been inspired to be a more wise and well-equipped leader by Dr. Adrian Rogers. The scholarly works of A. T. Robertson and John Broadus have taught me much about preaching and about the message of the New Testament. I’m thankful also for many of today’s leading Southern Baptists who are holding a firm line on having a strong commitment to an orthodox belief in the Scriptures as God’s inerrant self-revelation.
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”And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad… Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” –Acts 8:1, 4
At the close of Jesus’ ministry, just after His resurrection, He instructed the apostles and the church they would lead to “go into all the world” and preach the gospel everywhere. God has always wanted to be known to men everywhere, hence His great effort to publish the story of His Son Jesus. The apostles, however, got comfortabe in Jerusalem and though they had great success there, they neglected the great commission to go to the uttermost part of the earth.
What did God do in response? He allowed, within His sovereign will, a persecution to come to God’s people which scattered them around the region. When they were forced out of their comfort zone, they then obeyed the commission to witness to all creatures.
How often do we put off the leadership of God in our lives because of our comfort zones? Sometimes we merely miss the blessing altogether. Other times, God sends or allows circumstances in our lives that stretch our comfort zones or kick us out of them completely. The greatest strategy we can have is to get out of our own comfort zones before these circumstances have to come.
What is God leading you to do that you havent’ yet because of a comfort zone. What can you do to escape it and live to your full potential for God?
