NOT UP TO ME

Today's reading: Acts 16-17

"On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we supposed that some people met for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had come together. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. A she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household..." Acts 16:13-15 NLT

Paul and Silas followed the Holy Spirit's leading to a riverbank.

They followed God's directions in what to say.

They trusted in who God would have assembled that day to hear their words.

Then...and this is the lesson for us all...they trusted God to open up their hearts.

That part is not up to us!

It's not our presentation that will turn them around.

It's not our power point that will persuade them.

It's not our five-point message or perfectly timed jokes.

It's not how well we interlace short stories in to our road map down the Roman's road.

It's only, ONLY, up to God to open their hearts to hear, understand, believe and accept His Word.

Sure, we have a part to play.

We get to obey in speaking the Good News to whomever He asks us to present it to.

But what's not up to us is not up to us!