One Link in the Chain
Devotions for Growing Christians
One Link in the Chain
A modern U.S. Naval aircraft carrier is an awe-inspiring sight. Close to 1,100 feet long and 24 stories tall, it weighs over 100,000 tons and can hold up to 90 different aircraft.
As you can imagine, the chains needed to anchor a ship of this grandeur must be equally impressive. Almost a quarter mile in length, with massive links weighing well over a hundred pounds each, these chains can withstand incredible forces.
As strong and imposing as these chains are, it’s interesting that a chain of any size is never used to push an object. It can only be used to pull or draw something in. In this way, a chain is a great picture of how the Lord brings an unbeliever to Himself.
Our big and all-powerful God will never push or force anyone into submission. Rather, He draws a person to Himself by a chain of love – an amazing series of linked events and encounters that have been forged by His hand. God’s chains may take on some interesting twists and turns in the process (chains are not rigid), but they all lead to Him, one link at a time.
The links the Lord uses come in many forms, but by far the most frequent is a "personal link." New Christians almost always look back to the start of their spiritual journey and say something along these lines:
"My friend asked me to attend youth group one Wednesday night. I never missed a week after that.”
“A guy at work acted so differently than everyone else. I finally asked him why, and he shared his story about Jesus.”
“Another mom from my daughter’s class invited me to attend a “Mom’s Group” at her church. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was just what I needed in my life.”
Testimonies like this are not unusual. God loves using unique personal links in His chains. However, He can only use personal links when they’re available. Have we made ourselves fully available to be a link in someone else’s chain?
In John 4:35-38, Jesus used a similar analogy to illustrate this concept. He likened the links in a person’s life that lead to salvation to the process of growing crops -- from planting seeds right through to the harvest. “Planting the seed” is the first link in the chain. “Harvesting” is the final link in the chain. Paul later echoed the same analogy when he said about the believers in Corith: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Jesus asked His disciples to look at a field of growing crops, and then compared it to a "field" of unbelieving Samaritans (John 4:35). These people were searching for truth and were ready to turn to Jesus. They were a field of “ripe crops ready for harvest.”
In this case, the disciples’ job was not to form the whole chain. Solid foundational links were already in place. The chain just needed to be finished. Sure enough, many Samaritans turned and followed Jesus that very day.
Whether we’re a starting link, a middle link, or an ending link in someone’s story, the lesson is clear: the Lord wants to use us in His plan to draw other people to Himself. So how do we go about doing that?
Look for new opportunities
In verse 35, Jesus says, "Wake up and look around!” Jesus tells us to stay alert and pay attention to the spiritual activity happening right in front of us. The disciples were focused on more inconsequential things… like figuring out when and where they should eat lunch (v8; 31-33). Obviously, we often fall into that same pattern. When we focus on our own interests, we miss great opportunities.
God is busy forming chains all around us -- chains that draw people to Himself. So interacting with the people in our circles every day at work, or in school, for example, shouldn’t be looked on as a boring daily routine. It’s an opportunity right in front of us to be a link in someone’s chain. Just think, you may be the last link in a chain that connects someone to God for eternity! Or your actions and attitudes today may be just the right link for someone’s chain that will be completed next year (v37). Don't be disappointed if you don’t see an immediate response. Every link is important!
Don’t hesitate
There’s an urgency about the message from Jesus: “The fields are ripe for harvest” (v 35). Unbelievers are ready -- now! How often do we stall or find reasons not to share our faith with others? You may be intimidated to share your faith, but you don’t have to be a bold or outspoken evangelist to be a link in someone’s chain. Your link may be living a lifestyle that’s noticeably different from the world around you. Your link may be sharing thoughtful and appropriate Christian memes on social media or sending someone a timely spiritual song or article. Perhaps your link is disciplined and regular prayer for a coworker. Or maybe your link is volunteering to drive neighborhood kids to youth group every week. The key is: Don’t hesitate or put things off.
Earn rewards
Not only will our links help lead others to Christ, but the Lord promises that we’ll be rewarded for faithful service. The Bible pictures this as receiving crowns (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). The idea here is not trying to earn gold stars or reward points on your credit card. It’s the mindset of living our lives with eternal values in view. According to verse 36, there’s reward both on earth and in heaven for faithful chain builders.
Those who have the privilege of being the final link know the overwhelming joy of leading a person to Christ! But some of us will never get the chance to see our hard work pay off while we’re still here on earth. In either case, we know that one day all the faithful links in each chain will celebrate together in heaven (v36)!
How many of these celebrations will include you or me?
- Dave Reid / Ron Reid