Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Friday, April 29, 2016

"And then he [Jesus] told them, ‘You are to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere."¹

FedEx CEO and founder, Fred Smith, first developed the idea for an innovative airfreight company while he was a student at Yale University.

His professor was less than impressed. The paper Smith submitted outlining the concept earned him a "C". Thirty years later, FedEx was the world's largest express transportation company, with 128,000 employees and more than $7 billion in capital.

Smith's shortsighted professor didn't take a few things into consideration. One was Smith's persistenceâ€"he refused to give up. Another was his resourcefulnessâ€"when plan A doesn't work, there is always a plan B to put in motion. Most important, however, was Smith's ability to recruit others to his vision.

This reminds me of my early days in ministry back in my homeland of Australia. When I shared my vision with my then pastor of how I thought we could reach many people with the gospel, he stated emphatically: "That won't work here!" Thankfully I didn't listen to him!

Some years later his church folded up and was sold to another denomination. As God's Word also says, "Where there is no vision the people perish."²

Most people want to be part of what they are involved inâ€"even to the point of sacrifice. In the early days, for example, Smith's pilots often refueled company jets with their own money. Sometimes they sat on paychecks for months to help keep the company afloat.³

Can you imagine what would happen if every Christian had that kind of vision and attitude in wanting to be a part of God's plan and what He is doing in the world todayâ€"and was willing to make the kind of sacrifices needed to follow Christ and accept His commission to take the gospel to everyone everywhere?

Suggested prayer, "Dear God, in the words of the song writer: 'Oh Lord please light the fire, That once burned bright and clear, Replace the lamp of my first love, That burned with holy fear.' Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Mark 16:15 (TLB).
2. Proverbs 29:18 (KJV).
3. Adapted from Coy Wylie, TX, www.cornerstonebc.com

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