The Winning Goal 致胜球

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Dexu Xia

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Jul 27, 2024, 12:35:10 AM7/27/24

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A great number of people were brought to the Lord. Acts 11:24

On February 5, 2023, Christian Atsu kicked the winning goal for his football (soccer) team in a match in Turkey. A star international player, he learned to play the sport as a kid running barefoot in his home country of Ghana. Christian was a believer in Christ: “Jesus is the best thing that ever happened in my life,” he said. Atsu posted Bible verses on social media, was outspoken about his faith, and put it into action by helping finance a school for orphans.

The day after his winning goal, a devastating earthquake shook the city of Antakya, once the biblical city of Antioch. Christian Atsu’s apartment building collapsed, and he went to be with his Savior.

Two thousand years ago, Antioch was the fountainhead of the early church: “the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (Acts 11:26). One apostle, Barnabas, said to be “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit” (v. 24), was instrumental in bringing people to Christ: “a great number of people were brought to the Lord” (v. 24).

We look to the life of Christian Atsu not to idolize him but to see in his example an opportunity. Whatever our circumstance in life, we don’t know when God will take us to be with Him. We do well to ask ourselves how we can be a Barnabas or a Christian Atsu in showing others the love of Christ. That, above all, is the winning goal.

By: Kenneth Petersen

What does it mean to be a Barnabas to others? What opportunities do you have to talk about Jesus?

Dear God, I pray that You’ll give me opportunities to share my faith.

有许多人归服了主。—使徒行传11章24节

在2023年2月5日，克里斯蒂安·阿特苏（Christian Atsu）在土耳其的一场足球比赛中，为他的球队踢进了致胜的一球！这名来自加纳的国际明星球员从小就赤着脚跑步，在玩乐中学习踢足球。阿特苏是基督徒，曾直言不讳地宣称：“耶稣是我毕生的至宝！”在社交媒体上，阿特苏公开发布圣经经文，清楚表明自己的信仰，并以实际行动去资助一所为孤儿设立的学校，活出基督信仰。在他踢进致胜球的隔天，一场毁灭性的地震摇撼了土耳其的安塔基亚市，即圣经记载的安提阿城。阿特苏所在的那栋大楼在地震中倒塌了，他就这样回归天家与救主永远同在。

在两千多年前，安提阿是初代教会时期的宣教基地，门徒称为基督徒是从安提阿开始的（使徒行传11章26节）。人们称为“好人，被圣灵充满”的使徒巴拿巴，也曾被派遣到安提阿传福音，因为他的缘故，“有许多人归服了主”（24节）。

我们提到克里斯蒂安·阿特苏的生平事迹，并不是要崇拜他，而是要从中看到抓紧机会服事的重要性。无论我们现今身处何种境遇，我们都无法知道上帝何时会带我们回归天家。所以我们应扪心自问，要如何像巴拿巴或阿特苏一样，以基督的爱去关怀别人。这才是最重要的致胜球！作者： 毕恺腾

成为别人眼中的巴拿巴，意味着什么呢？
你有什么机会可以与人谈论耶稣？