The Tribune

By Rev Angela C Bosfield Palacious

"Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified."

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter said to them,"Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him."

And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." So those who welcomed his message were baptised, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

(Acts 2:36-41 NRSV).

In order to add to the number of Christians we have to know our own status. Are we disciples of Jesus Christ ourselves? Are we able to share our faith to convince someone else to join us? Are we committed, consistent and conscious of the example that we are setting?

In order to be a bona fide disciple, we have to:

1. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

2. Seek to follow his teaching

3. Worship and serve him as guided by the Holy Spirit

This means that:

• We have to spend time in his presence, which is prayer.

• We have to read or listen to the Bible to know its content

• We have to associate with other Christians to learn from them

• We have to engage in ministry of some sort.

It is faith that informs our actions and influences our behaviour. It is cultivated by listening to Bible-based preaching and teaching. It is deepened by experiencing an intimate relationship with Jesus, our Saviour and Lord.

Once we are standing on the promises of God, and on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, rooted and grounded in the Scriptures, then we are able to teach others what we are learning each day. As we grow, we share what it is that the Church teaches, and what we experience in times of prayer and study.

Who in your home needs a touch from the Master?

Who in your place of employment would be blessed to know that Jesus heals?

Who all in your civic organisation would benefit from the fact that God loves them?

Whom do you meet through casual contact who would do well to discover the peace of Christ?

Look around you to see persons desperately in need of hope and faith. Look to determine who could use a friend. Are you willing to introduce that person to the One who died on the cross so that no one would perish? Are you bold enough to whisper a prayer in a meeting to direct the nature of the discussion? Are you passionate enough to speak out on a topic of your choice in the name of the Lord?

Many of our children and young people are hurting and angry. They need to know that God can make a way for them, and we have to be willing to be the hands that God uses to bless them. Many of our women and men are feeling overwhelmed with the pressures of family life, especially if they are struggling financially. What more can we do to alleviate their suffering?

Every act of love provides an opportunity to add to the number of believers. These in turn, with proper nurture, will become committed disciples, who will add to the number. People need the Lord, and the Lord chooses to need us to add to the number. Will you make a more concerted effort to do your part?