“The other day,” I mentioned to Stan one morning at breakfast, “I was talking to one of my neighbors about Christianity, coming to faith, and all of that.”
“Great!” Stan replied. “How’d it go?
“Not so hot,” I replied. “He basically said, ‘Why didn’t I mind my own business?’”
“Then what?” Stan asked.
“I didn’t have a response for him, so I just kind of dropped the subject.”
“Same thing happened to me quite a few times,” Stan replied. “Once when it happened, I spent some time in prayer and I was given a perspective I have used often in that sort of situation.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“It’s not my business,” he replied. “It’s God’s business.”
“God’s business?”
“Yeah,” Stan said. “It seems to me that the apostle Peter summed that up real nicely when he pointed out that God doesn’t want any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. That’s why He gave and sent Jesus to go to the cross.”
“Oh,” I said. “God is in the business of saving people for His purposes, not mine. Is that it?”
“That’s what it looks like to me,” Stan replied. “I’m not to get bent out of shape because someone rejects what I say to them and tells me to mind my own business. I’m to know that my role is to be in and about God’s business. I am to tell others about Him and leave the results in His very capable hands.”
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Bible verses to consider:
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? Romans 2:4.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus to go to the cross so I could accept His finished work and know I will spend eternity in your presence when it’s time. Thank you for those who focused on your “business” and brought that truth to me (and me to that truth). I confess that too often I do not pursue what you have for me to pursue in telling others of your free and gracious provision so they have the opportunity to accept it. Please forgive me for that lack of doing what you have for me to do. And please help me to follow every step of your lead so I am always working for your business in bringing people to you. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted God’s free and gracious provision of life with Him eternally when your time here is completed? If no, why? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing in being in and about God’s “business”? To you, what is God’s business? Do you see it as more important than your own? If you sense the need for change in your life regarding this, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 
Todays reading was a great encouragement. There is a person that I recently met and witnessed to that expressed interest in hearing more about Jesus. We had made plans to reconnect to discuss Jesus. That reconnect has not yet happened as they have not followed through with their commitment to connect once again with me.
Todays reading reminded me that it’s in the Lords hands and His timing is perfect and His ways are higher than mine. My trust needs to be centered on Him and to be instant in season and out.
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