Friday, July 12, 2019
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
In 1990 I
was called to serve as pastor to a church in Jacksonville, Florida. That first week I got a call from a local
Christian radio station asking for an interview. My answer was ME? The voice on the other end of the phone
assured me they wanted to interview the city’s new pastor; I shrugged my
shoulders and went to the station the next morning at 5:30, wondering if God
was even up at that hour.
I didn’t
find out until after the interview that the station had made a mistake. The church just up the road from us was North
Jacksonville, and we were North Main Street.
We had about 60 in worship, they had about 5,000. Mega Church leaders are much more of a media
choice than pastors of smallish, struggling churches. But neither I, nor the show host found out there
had been a hiccup in their choice until after the live segment took place. The radio folks were expecting the dynamic
new preacher from North Jax; they got me.
There was
no way I was comfortable in this situation.
The thought of me being in the center-ring of a live show that had a
potential audience of more than a million people was terrifying. I was from a small town, grew up on a dirt
road, and played with toy trucks in our back yard with my best friend, Tommy
Stubbulo; what did I have to say that would mean anything to a million people? My one redeeming hope was that, along with
God not being up at that hour, most people would still be snoring, and I could
remain anonymous.
Now, I
don’t know if anyone was impacted that day by the nerve-induced stumbling,
stammering word of testimony I gave on that radio show, but it was a total act
of faith that compelled me to drive to the station and actually go in. And, I think, that may be the central point
of what Jesus meant when he told his disciples with the last words of his earthly
ministry, guys, YOU are the ones who are going to tell my story
everywhere, to everybody, in every place, whether there is opposition from people,
or even from within your own nervous stomachs; YOU - ARE - MY - WITNESSES!
What Jesus said to James, John, Peter, and
the rest of the bunch was also meant for Russell, and every other
believer. Preacher, baker, butcher, or
candlestick-maker, those who have trusted Christ as savior are also those
called to share His story with others.
Back in
1990 I didn’t even have a recorder, so I have no idea what I said on that
show. I remember quite clearly the
circus going-on in my stomach, and the fear that I was going to mess it up so
bad we’d have to move to Australia, where they’d never even heard of Tommy Stubbulo. But, somehow I survived, and we didn’t have
to leave town to avoid the lynch mobs.
I’m glad
that I went to the station, because even if I did mess it up, that unsolicited
call from the station was their mess-up…my job as a Christian believer is to be
obedient, responding to the call of Christ to be his witness, any time, any
place, to any person, simply sharing what Jesus did for a boy brought up on a
dirt road on the rougher side of town.
For You Today
If you’re an introvert like me, your stomach has this roller coaster
inside, and at the mere thought of taking the initiative to share your faith you
feel that churning, incredible insecure smallness when the opportunity
arrives. It’s like the roller coaster
car you’re in has just crested the top of the tracks, and you’re about to fall
twelve-thousand miles into the abyss below.
And then, if you’ve become a follower of His, you remember…it’s not
really about you…it’s all about what HE has done FOR you.
Friend, do the interview!
Go to VIDEO
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Title Image: Pixabay.com Unless otherwise noted, Scripture used from
The
New Living Translation©
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