Acts 11:19-26 / John 10:22-30
When we think about what appeals to people, then it boils down to what people are attracted to.
People like to be entertained. People like the spectacular and the sensational.
It is also amazing how people would idolize some individuals like pop singers and movie stars.
Their fan club membership can even go to five figures, or more, depending on the popularity.
When tracing the beginnings of Christianity, the disciples went around preaching the simple message of the Good News.
As the 1st reading puts it: The Lord helped them, and a great number believed and were converted to the Lord.
And when Barnabas was sent to the church in Antioch, he could see for himself that God had given grace.
Christianity and its early missionary preachers did not try to appeal to peoples' desires or tried to attract people with anything spectacular or sensational.
It was by the grace of God that people believed and were won over to the Lord.
It is the Lord who calls us to be His disciples and we are sent to do the work of God by witnessing to the Good News of salvation.
Let us keep focused on the Lord as we carry out His work.
Let us also remember that the results are by the grace of God and not by our abilities.