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This week’s devotions are based on the introduction week of “Explore God” (WATCH HERE)

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As we remember this week the terror attacks on 9/11/01, memories not only turn to those who lost their lives in the planes or in the collapse of the buildings, but to the fire fighters, police and emergency personnel who lost their lives rushing into the buildings while everyone was rushing out.

It takes a special person to do this.  It takes the ability to put fear aside for the sake or rescuing those that are themselves afraid, hurting or dying.  The cause of bringing aid is bigger than the fear of personal harm.

9/11 magnified this attitude of not only the first responders of New York City, but those around our country whose greater fear is not helping someone in need versus not getting injured or killed themselves.

Is it too far of a stretch to say we need the same attitude when we seek to witness to our faith and give a reason for the hope we have?

Yes. We do.

How so?

Often what keeps our conversation silent and our words inside is a fear of how people will react to us, treat us, or view us.  Our fear comes from how WE will be treated and that fear can keep us from doing anything.

But what happens when, like first responders, we stop fearing what is going to happen to us and rather fear what will happen to the person if we don’t say something or do something?

We have a firm belief in the reality that all who believe in Jesus are going to spend eternity with him.  We also believe that all who do not believe in Jesus will spend an eternity apart from him in hell.

I don’t want someone to experience that.  I want them to be rescued and enjoy life with Jesus.

So we must say something…regardless of what may happen to us personally.  As children of God entrusted with the treasure of the Gospel, it is what we are here to bring to others.

We can’t control how others will react or treat us.  We can control a) if we are prepared to give a reason for the hope we have and b) if we take the opportunity to share that hope when the opportunity comes.

The apostles were great examples of ones who set aside fear of personal harm and simply were compelled to speak of Jesus.  Here’s one example early after Pentecost:

Acts 4:18 Then [the Sanhedrin] called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Pray for even a greater fearlessness than the NYPD and fire department, and with the Spirit’s help boldly speak of the hope we have in Jesus…the people hearing it need it!

 

Apply: Perhaps take a moment today and reflect on this question: When I think about witnessing about Jesus do I fear more what will happen to me more than what will happen to the person to whom I am speaking? Or the other way around?

Prayer: Spirit of God, give to each of us a fearless boldness to witness to the hope we have in Jesus!

This week’s devotions are based on the introduction week of “Explore God” (WATCH HERE)

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Be ready for battle!

The day after 9/11 the nation prepared for war.  However it wasn’t a conventional war where soldiers lined up against an enemy.  The initial challenge was figuring out who the enemy was, where they lurked, how they fought, and what they would do next.  This enemy hid in the shadows, blended into classrooms, or hid in caves in far away lands.  22 years later the battle still rages with vigilance, intelligence and preventative measures to keep terror like happened on 9/11/01 from happening again.

Battle is hard when we aren’t prepared.  Battle is hard when it comes in unexpected ways and unexpected times.

So the key is always to be ready.

So, if we are going to be prepared to give a reason for the hope we have, we MUST realize we are stepping more fully onto the spiritual battlefield.  The commander of the enemy is Satan himself who desires the demise of Christ and all who follow him.  Every promoter of the message of grace will be identified as a target to annihilated.  To enter the battle with anything but strength of soul, intensity of heart and clarity of mind would be to commit spiritual suicide at worst, a terrible defeat at best.

The Apostle Paul knew the enemy.  He writes about it in Ephesians 6:

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 

19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. 

Paul knew that when he opened his mouth, Satan would want to shut it.  He knew that people were not going to like him and would stand opposed to him.  He knew people could hurt him or even kill him.

When facing an enemy like this, the temptation is to give up and go home.  Or shut up and be quiet.  As a result the hope found in Jesus remains silent.

But it can’t.  Just like the US could not just walk away from the 9/11 attacks with no recourse, so God’s people cannot walk away from the onslaught of the spiritual terror that Satan is making in our country and communities.  We must be ready.  We have the hope the world needs.  So armor up…and be ready to take on the enemy with the power of the Spirit and the Word of Truth!

Apply: What piece of armor do you find most important for you as you think about engaging the spiritual battle connected with sharing the faith God has given to you?
Prayer: Spirit of God, cover me with the armor of God and move me forward with the confidence of faith and the conviction of your truth!  AMEN!

This week’s devotions are based on the introduction week of “Explore God” (WATCH HERE)

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For a brief time 22 years ago, life paused…people wondered…people worried…questions were asked…loved ones were hugged…the skis grew silent and the churches filled up.

September 11, 2001 will remain a strong memory for all alive to remember the terrorist attacks that took the lives of many and destroyed the sense of security that US citizens had enjoyed since the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.

In North Carolina where I was pastoring at the time, by that evening we had a prayer service planned and open to all who wanted to huddle around God’s word of grace and peace.

Many came.

For a brief moment people sought answers to their uncertainties in a church.  Why does evil exist?  What is the purpose of life?  Is God real? And others.  Yet the shock of the tragedy soon returned to the routine of life and the urgent in life pressed out the importance of faith.

Would people do the same today?

I believe the same questions would be asked, but many would not seek answers in a church.

In 2020, a study Pew Research found that the number of Americans who identified as Christian was 64% in 2020, with 30% of the US population being classed as “religiously unaffiliated.” In 1990s that number was 92%.  Those that were born just before 9/11 are 30% less likely to find answers to life’s most challenging moments and questions from a Christian foundation. 1 in 3.  Let that sink in for a moment.

While a person’s association with Christianity may be less likely, a person’s propensity to ask challenging life questions is as real today as it was in 2001.

The difference is they are not coming to a church to have those questions answered.  Some may be looking online.  Some may be looking to secular philosophy.  Some may not be looking. But many may seek input from a trusted friend.

And when they do, would you be ready?

If a person is experiencing their own personal tragedy and asked, “Why does God allow evil in the world?” Would you be able to answer?

If a person sees more discouragement and feels like life doesn’t matter and asks you, “What is the purpose in life anyway?

If a person is in the middle of a religious studies course at a secular university, they may ask you, “Is God real?”

And when they ask, would you be ready to answer?

I pray our nation never again experiences another 9/11.  Much more than that, I pray that everyone of God’s people, you and me, are prepared to give a reason for the hope we have and answer life’s biggest questions clearly and succinctly. Peter encourages us:

1 Peter 3:13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

Be ready!  The questions are coming…Are you ready?

 

Apply: Stay with these devotions for the next weeks and I pray it is another tool to better equip you to give a reason for the HOPE you have!

Prayer: Lord God thank you for proving this journey of faith.  I ask that you answer life’s big questions for me and then equip me to answer life’s big questions for others! AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Week 5 of “I Love My Church…Love by Sharing!” (WATCH HERE)

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Have you ever wondered or questioned why you were born when you were, lived where you lived or worked where you worked? Or wondered the same in the present tense…why am I working here, living here, or alive today?

Many articles have been written about finding your purpose and your passion and the “reason you were born.”  Often times these are focused on secular components that lead you to make a contribution to the world and people around you.

Like with many things in life, I can go through the process of discovering my purpose on this earth from a secular sense and find some satisfaction and value.  However, as a Christian who has been forgiven and bought by the blood of Jesus, our purpose is not just for a secular outcome, but for a spiritual reason.  We begin to realize that GOD has knit me together and allowed me to be born for this time.  I realize God has given me gifts and talents to use, not just to benefit society, but to glorify him.  I realize my purpose is wrapped up in my relationship to God.

Let me add one more thing to this.  It is very possible that God has you alive today, living where you live and working where you work because he wants to use you to share him with someone else.  When Jesus left this earth he chose to entrust his message of grace to his disciples and handful of followers.  He could have had a different way to spread the power of the Gospel, but he chose people.

Nothing is different today.  You have been given the comfort and peace of the Gospel not only for your own life, but to share with the life of another.  How do we know?  One great example is in Acts 17 when the Apostle Paul is speaking to a group of secular philosophers and wanted them to move from a natural knowledge of God to believing in Jesus as their Savior.  He indicates that God also orchestrates the lives of all people so that they might be in a position to discover him.

Acts 17:26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

What this also means is we might be on the other end of someone God has allowed to live today, reside next to us or work with us for the very purpose that he wants YOU to be in that spot to share him when that person’s curiosity desires to know who the true God is.  As God’s people he wants us to always be prepared to share the hope with have with gentleness and respect.

God has you in the right place at the right time…be ready to share when he sends someone your way!

 

Apply: What changes for your day when you realize God has orchestrated today not only for your benefit and blessing, but also for you to be a blessing in someone else’s life?

Prayer: Lord thank you for a message to share, a time to share it and someone with whom to share it. AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Week 5 of “I Love My Church…Love by Sharing!” (WATCH HERE)

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We share because we care.

You can tell the difference.

You’ve talked with a salesperson who you can tell is simply interested in getting a sale, not what’s best for you.  He (or she) goes on about the importance of the product, how it works, and what great value it has and then asks for the sale.

The difference is stark when a sales person comes to you because a) you’ve invited them because of a need you have, b) they seek to understand the problem or issue you are having before suggesting a product or solution and c) are willing to suggest their product may not be exactly what you need or are looking for.

One cares about themselves.  One cares about you.

Both share the product, how it works and the value it has, but one shares to make a sale and the other shares because they care about you and helping you.

The same could be said of sharing our faith.

We can engage in a conversation about Christianity and share the importance of believing in Jesus, the details about Jesus’ work for us and the great value faith has and turn a person off.

This is frustrating and discouraging.  We wonder, “How could anyone say ‘no’ to Jesus?”

They probably aren’t saying, “no” to Jesus, they are saying “No” to your approach. 

You shared before you cared.

I heard it first from leadership teacher John Maxwell, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  This is very true of sharing our faith as well.  Before your share, take time to care. Here’s an example from Jesus’ ministry:

Matthew 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” 

Jesus cared for the people around him.  He felt for them in his gut.  He healed many and shared with many.  He cared for them and they knew that what he said and what he did was because he cared.  Jesus had no underlying motive other than for people to understand and experience his love.  He knew people wouldn’t care about what he had to share until he shared how much he cared.

We are an answer to Jesus’ prayer for more workers in the harvest field.  He has given us his love and grace and we are well equipped to share it with others.

But first take time to care.  Ask questions.  Get to know the person.  Understand what the hurt is.  Then share.

I remember a conversation with a gal about original sin.  She didn’t understand why sin and its consequences were mentioned in my sermons, devotions and teaching.  As we conversed I could have explained all the passages about original sin and why she should understand it was an accurate teaching of the Bible.  However, I asked this question, “It seems like the topic of original sin is a big issue for you.  I’m curious why, amidst all the other teachings of the BIble and Christianity, that one stands out to you?”

Tears started to flow.  She had struggled for years growing up to be a perfectionist to gain her fathers’ approval.  Straight A’s in school wasn’t enough.  Athletic performance wasn’t enough.  She felt like she could never achieve her fathers’ love apart from being perfect.  She struggled to understand that her Heavenly Father would see her as imperfect.  Once she shared, I could share the Gospel more precisely to let her know she didn’t have to carry the load of perfection, but Jesus did for her.  Her Father loved her dearly, even though she wasn’t perfect.

While the load didn’t fully lift, the question enabled a more caring sharing because it addressed the real hurt, the real concern because in that conversation I was able to show how much I cared.

 

Apply: How can you show care and concern for someone today?  Ask the Lord to use an opportunity to care to open an opportunity to share.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for caring for each of us in a personal, real way.  Help me to always show how much I care before I share you with them.  AMEN.