Negative to positive

A few years ago, a body of believers I was a part of went through a very trying time when one man's opinion on certain issues led to division and distraction. Feelings were hurt, friendships damaged, spiritual lives put in shambles. Some people have still not recovered from the havoc wrecked by one man's honest efforts to do what he felt was the right thing.

On another occasion, I was floored when I read an article by a well-known preacher alleging some things that I knew to be misleading at best and untrue at worst. I went to this man directly (as I believe the Scripture would have us to) and he refused to speak with me about the article other than to say he stood by what he had written. I was both hurt and confused.


Why do I mention these two examples of negative experiences I have had with fellow Christians? Because I believe that God is bigger than the individuals that serve Him.


Though I believe both these men went about things in the wrong way and made mistakes, I know that, I too, make mistakes from time to time in my efforts to point people to Jesus. God can use my mistakes (and the mistakes of others) for His ultimate glory. God is bigger than me and my ministry and bigger than you and yours.


God took that opinionated man and sent him from local work to the mission field where he is making a great impact on believers around the world. While God did not change the heart of the second man, He lit a fire within my spirit to preach and teach a more compassionate gospel so that people will see the love of Christ living in me. Ironically, though this brother and I had disagreed strongly on this issue, I was supporting a member of his family in mission work in Africa unaware of their connection. God humbled me through that experience because I found myself praying that the heart of the one would be changed will the ministry of the other would be blessed.

There is always hope that the higher thoughts of God (Isa. 55:9) will swoop down and fill the minds of men for a brief moment. When this happens, our ministries will flourish and our paths will become clear and fulfilling in serving Jesus Christ.