Who Held the Rope?

Today’s post is short and sweet but I hope it encourages you. Recently, Clarence Deloach asked the question that is the title of this article at Willow Avenue. He was referencing the events from Acts 9 where the Jews were unhappy with Saul’s newfound knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the truth so they plotted to kill him. Fortunately for hundreds – maybe thousands – of future Christians, the plot was discovered and Saul was saved by being lowered over the city walls in a basket.

But the question remains, “Who held the rope?” You see, we know about Saul (turned Paul) and his great acts of evangelism. But none of that might have happened had it not been for those holding the ropes that allowed for his escape.

This made me think of the words in 1 Corinthians 12 where we read that God is the distributor of gifts and abilities, all of which are given “for the common good” (verse 7). In Romans 12:6 we read that no matter the gift we are given, we are to “use them.”

Some of the men who held the ropes lowering Saul to safety may have been great scholars or eloquent speakers, but what if they weren’t? What if they were “average” Christians with gifts of courage and strength? Where would the New Testament church have been had they chosen not to use their gifts?

The application is simple: whatever your gift, use it. If we don’t “hold the rope” we may be hindering great evangelism.

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…” Ecclesiastes 9:10

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AUTHOR: Amber Tatum