Expect Results
by Dan Jones, M.D.
John 4:39-41
Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.
Jesus had encountered a woman at a well in the normal course of his daily life. He had engaged her in a purposeful conversation about the gospel. He demonstrated a focus in his life on spiritual things. And as a result of this, the woman believed. And “many more became believers.”
Just as in this encounter Jesus had with the Samaritan woman, He will use us as his instruments in leading people to believe today. When we are faithful to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit in sharing the gospel, we can expect results; not because of us, but because of the Holy Spirit.
In the years I worked in Korea, I had the opportunity to participate in activities associated with the beginning of a new church. Our mobile clinic team from our hospital focused a lot of our effort working in small rural villages where there was no church. As a pastor was beginning work in one of these communities, we would hold a three day clinic at the site of the anticipated church. These were often done in tents. During those days in the village, we would share God’s love through the provision of health care and through sharing the gospel in-home visits and in evening services.
Sometimes, those days would go by with no public professions of faith and no real tangible prospects for members for the new church. It was easy to feel discouraged after several hard days of work with nights passed sleeping on a hard floor of a farmer’s home. But some of the most joyous times for our team were visits back to these villages a year or two later. Without fail, we would be encouraged by churches with new believers with praise in their hearts for our Lord. I was reminded that if we are faithful to purposefully share our faith, God will work in the hearts of men to make them believers.
Lord, thank you for the harvest of believers. Make me bold in sharing your gospel with others.
Dan Jones, M.D., MACP, FAHA, a board-certified Internist, a former medical missionary to Korea, professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Chancellor of the University of Mississippi until 2015. Dr. Dan Jones is a member of CMDA.
Dr. Jones welcomes any comments or questions about what he has written and can be reached at - djones@umc.edu
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