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devotions
Topic: Sharing the Gospel
Scripture: John 12:32
Powerful Pull
[Jesus said,] “I, when I am lifted up from the earth,
will draw all people to myself.”
—John 12:32
introduction
Have you ever been afraid to do something, and then when you worked up the nerve to
do it, it turned out to be a wonderful experience? Or maybe you tried something that was
hard at first, and even a little painful, but in the end it was really, really worth all your
trouble? Sometimes that’s what telling others about Jesus is like. It can be scary, it can
be hard, and it can even hurt a little—especially if a friend or family member makes fun
of you when you try to share the gospel with them. But Jesus promised two things about
witnessing for him. First, he promised to be with you (Matthew 28:19–20). Second, he
promised that when people hear the good news about what he has done for them, many
will respond by believing in him. And when someone you care about does that, it makes
everything worth it!
Today’s devotion is about this second promise. It’s based on John 12:32, in which Jesus
said, “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” The devotion is
called “Powerful Pull.”
devotion
Sitting at the desk in his bedroom, Dylan wound copper wire around a large nail. “What
are you doing, Son?” his father asked, walking into the room.
Dylan looked up. “Making an electromagnet. I saw the instructions for it in a book.” As his
dad watched, Dylan taped one end of the wire to the positive side of a D-cell battery. Then
he taped the other end to the negative side. “Okay, I’m ready to test it,” he said.
Scattering small nails on his desk, Dylan held the point of the large nail over them. They
leaped up and stuck to it.
Some Christians are afraid to tell people about the gospel. They think others won’t like
hearing about how Jesus was nailed to a cross on the ground and then was lifted up to
die. But when people understand that he died to save them, they see the cross differently.
The love Jesus showed the world by dying on the cross draws people to him like a magnet.
Don’t be afraid to share the gospel with others! You’ll help them realize how much Jesus
loves them.
Copyright © 2011 by Zondervan
Material taken from the
NIV Adventure Bible Book of Devotions