ASK GOD TO USE YOU                                                Acts 16:11-15

“And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” (v14)

Lydia wasn’t a preacher, she was a successful businesswoman won to Christ under Paul’s ministry. As a result, her home became the first church building named in Scripture where believers met. Get rid of the idea that only preachers speak for God. Out of 168 hours in a week, preachers generally get to speak to people only one hour.  Who’s going to speak for God the other 167 hours? India has a billion people and there’s an interesting story of how the gospel first reached the Telugu region. It wasn’t through a preacher, but a civil engineer called John Clough, who offered to go to a newly established mission and help them. The missionary board had misgiving because he hadn’t been to a seminary, but they admired his zeal so they authorized the trip. During a great famine, Clough supervised the digging of the Buckingham Canal. His position enabled him to hire thousands of hungry people, which meant they could earn wages and buy food. But something even more important happened. As a result, God opened the hearts of multitudes to receive His Word for the first time and today, the church is thriving in India. God says, “Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass.” (Isaiah 46:10 NLT)  God already has a plan, what He’s looking for are workers willing to help fulfill it. And you can be one of them. (TWFT)

PRAYER LINE: Father, help me recognize the people in my life who need someone to stand with them. Forgive me for thinking that it’s “not my problem.” Help me to love others as You do.

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It is impossible to love Christ without loving others.