Who done it?

 Have you ever felt pressure to witness in "just the right way" so that someone would come to know Christ?  Have you ever thought, "Oh no, I forgot to pray for that person's salvation today!  What will happen?"  I'll admit to thoughts like that.  For me, they come from a background of people teaching me that Jesus was necessary for salvation, but then I had better get to work to sanctify myself.  Of course, that isn't what the Bible teaches.  I have been studying Acts recently, and I came upon some verses I wanted to share with you.

Acts 16:14 says, "A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshipper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul."

Acts 18:9 and 10 say, "And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid any longer but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.""

Acts 19:11 says, "God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,"

(all emphasis mine)

Do you note who is working in the people's lives?  GOD is working.  Yes, Paul is cooperating with Him and obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit, but all the results are all about God.  We need to be careful to remember that God is the one who works in our lives and the lives of people around us.  Yes, we are to be obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit, fully surrendered to God, but the results are up to Him.  He doesn't actually need us to do anything in anyone's life.  He can work all by Himself.  He chooses to allow us to be a part of His work, but we need to keep our part in perspective.  He is the one who draws others to Him.  He is the one who works miracles.  If we are being obedient to Him, then we don't have to worry about results or stress about methods or anything else for that matter.  Our job is to believe enough that we then obey Him.  That's it.  So, who done it?  God.  Only Him.

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