Claimed for Jesus
Michael Cassidy is a giant in evangelism in Africa. He formed African Enterprise, which has done amazing work in our continent for many years. And I read his book Footprints in the African Sand at the beginning of the year and found it very inspiring. So, I'd like to share some thoughts from it. And as always, I encourage you to get the book and enjoy it like I did.
A Vision for Africa
The book begins with Michael telling of when he was 24 years old, he had a great passion to take the news of Jesus to every city in Africa. That was the great vision and dream that he had for his life. And so, on this particular morning, he was walking on a beach in Liberia, and he said God felt very, very near as he walked along the sand and dreamed this dream for his continent.
He said this: “I wanted to claim our partnership in this gospel endeavor. I drew an enormous outline of Africa in the sand and wrote Claimed for Jesus Christ. I then asked the Lord for 50 years of ministry in Africa, a year for every state presently on the African continent.”
And so, he walked along 50 paces and put 50 footprints in the sand, each one to represent a year of ministry—an amazing act of faith. And as the book shows, that's exactly what happened in his life in an amazing way. God used him powerfully to bring the gospel throughout Africa.
Claiming for Christ
I wondered if you and I couldn't maybe go through a similar little ritual. Do you need to claim something for Jesus? Maybe not Africa, maybe that's not your dream, but maybe your home needs to be claimed for Christ. Maybe your workplace needs to be claimed for Christ. Maybe there's somewhere that God wants to send you to do good work and bring His good news to affect the lives of people there.
Will you claim that place for Christ today? Will you claim that place for Christ today and ask God to use you to bring His good news to that place? He did it for Michael Cassidy. He used him in a massive way. And I believe that wherever it is that God has placed you and me, we can do the same—claim it for Christ. And then in faith, go and share the gospel there.
I'd love for you to share with me if you've claimed some place for Christ today so that I can pray with you and just ask God's blessing on whatever your dream is. Don't shake it off, friends. Go where God has called you to and claim it for Christ in faith today.
