Read: Acts 26:1, 24-32

Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?” Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.” Acts 26:28–29

King Agrippa did not convert to Paul’s faith. In fact, most people who heard Paul remained unmoved and unchanged. If you look critically at Paul’s career, you might assume that most of the time Paul’s efforts met with failure. And yet Paul sought and received a private audience with King Agrippa and his wife, Bernice, and the Roman governor Felix. Not bad for someone written off as insane! During this audience with the ruling authorities, Paul tried to convert Agrippa, Bernice, Felix, and everyone else who was within earshot.

Paul’s goals were inspired by the Lord he worshiped, and those goals were big. Huge! God encourages us not to play small but to dream on a gigantic scale. Creating a nation of people from a shriveled old couple from Ur, freeing a nation of slaves from Egypt, encouraging the world to fall in line behind Jesus—we are encouraged to think big because our God acts big.

What big thought is the Lord encouraging in your life?

Lord, so often I feel as if my efforts in this world are of no consequence. But the Bible testifies that You use little people like me to accomplish remarkable—unimaginable—work. Perhaps I should demand more from myself, and expect more from You. In Jesusname, I pray. AMEN.