I’m reminded of a story about a man who years ago was ready to make some terrible decisions. Several friends confronted and warned him. By God’s grace, he got counseling, and today he is closer to Jesus than ever. This had appeared to be an impossible situation, too late to turn around. Yet by God’s grace, it happened. God used voices of truth and grace in this person’s life, and he has now influenced many others for God’s kingdom.
This story helps me to have hope for struggling people tempted to reconstruct their faith, and hope for the body of Christ to be what Jesus intends it to be—full of genuine grace and truth. When I spend time with my small group and with Christ-centered friends, I come home refreshed instead of depleted. So if I find social media that refreshes me, as I sometimes do, I go for it. If it just drains and discourages or irritates me, I need to stay away.
A dear friend shared this memory:
Romans 15 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible. Back in the ’90’s I was having a discouraging time and I called a dear friend to pray for me. She read Romans 15 to me on the phone, and the Holy Spirit just bathed me in the comfort of those words. I’ll never forget where I was sitting and what I was wearing and what I was thinking that night. Jesus took me from darkness into perfect light through His Word.
What a great memory to have. And what a great illustration, with all the people who hate the church, and always criticize it. We’ve all been touched by church people who were instruments of Jesus in our life. Let’s thank God for them! And humbly seek to be Christ-centered instruments of grace, truth, and encouragement in others’ lives, both online and in person.
This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.
