Notes of Faith July 2, 2025
The Park Bench
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Colossians 4:5, NIV
At the age of 39, Wales Goebel felt God calling him to leave his construction business and begin working with young people. Over the years he led thousands to Christ. He helped establish a series of pregnancy centers and an adoption agency. At age 92, he felt God calling him to a new ministry. He told his wife that he believed there was a ministry God had for him at the lake. He would go each day, sit on a park bench, and pray for the Lord to send him someone to whom he could talk and witness. That bench became his pulpit where he led many people to Christ and enrolled them in a Bible study. He’s still doing that at the age of 97.1
When we live an openhearted life, we will exhibit hospitality, meet the needs of others, and show empathy to them. We’ll look for opportunities unique to our situation. Take some time to evaluate how open your heart is to serving others in these ways and pray for God to give you opportunities to demonstrate His love through your actions. Pray for ideas, and then go forth to serve the Lord.
You’re never too old to do the Lord’s work.
Wales Goebel
Col 4:2-6
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.
5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Do you pray for opportunity to speak the love of God to others? You were given life for a reason and that is to bring glory to God! Ask Him for opportunity, and then another and another…to praise Him, honor Him, serve Him by speaking the truth of the gospel to those who need to hear and respond to the love of God in Jesus Christ. May you all be given an opportunity to share Christ today, telling others how He has changed your life for all eternity!
Pastor Dale