S. Acts 26:28-29 (NIV) 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
O. Agrippa asks Paul if he (Paul) thinks he can persuaded to become a Christian in such a short time. Paul’s answer is great - However long it takes - to ultimately enjoy the new life in Christ without the prison chains.
Paul knew it was a matter of time. He didn’t know how long, but however long it took would be fine as long as Agrippa (and others ) might become Christians .
There is an urgency to get the message of Christ’s love and salvation out to the world. However, we must allow people to take whatever time they need (as long as it takes) for them to place their faith in Christ. That is one part we cannot control. We can pray and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to their hearts and minds, but we must be willing to not try to coerce people, rather witness and pray. The rest we leave into the hands of our Father through Jesus and the Holy Spirt working in concert together with the person we shared with.
A. I realize that people need time. Someone has once said it takes 5 hearings of the gospel before someone will come to know Christ. I am unsure about the trustworthiness of that statement however I am keenly aware that from Jesus’ parables of the soils (comparing soil to the condition of people’s hearts) there is a 25% “success” rate (at which people will be ready to receive God’s word c.f. Matthew 13). Therefore I will continue to preach, teach, witness and pray that people will ultimately respond to God’s word and the moving of the Holy Spirit no matter how long it may take.
P. Thank you Father for your word today. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to consistently and patiently share the Gospel of Christ with others that they might ultimately (however long it takes) be persuaded to become a Christian. In Jesus’ name!
