Seek, Ask, Knock…And Be Prepared

Repost of  Devotional for 1/29/11


Have you ever found yourself listening to someone ramble on and on negatively about God’s Word? Calling it a “joke”? Spouting off conspiracy theories they got from the internet? Drawing in listening ears entertained by their trivia? And then, caught up in the moment, you lost your ability to draw out of your mind a solid argument because their words were so impressive? Even though you knew they were false?


It’s frustrating and defeating. Many times, I feel that I don’t have solid facts at my fingertips in a moment’s notice, or I at least have something on the tip of my tongue but not enough to even sound intelligent. AHHH!!! Later, I’ll find myself with phrase upon phrase flowing endlessly in my head, but when it’s after the fact, what good does it do?


My friend, these are training moments. We can learn from each and every one of them. When those phrases start plummeting out of your head and through your lips to an absent audience in the privacy of your home, practice them, write them down, and pray over them so that you don’t forget them.


Here’s an example of how to answer someone like that (what I literally wrote out for myself to remember):
“Who are the “they” you refer to? And why would you think that they are trying to stop you from reading those “Gnostic” gospels you refer to? If you think the “they” is the church, I would beg to differ. I am a part of that church, that Body of Christ, and my desire is for all people to know Him, but I’m not going to stop you from reading those gospels.
“If you really want to know the truth, then read them along with the gospels included in the Bible. Compare them for yourself. These excluded gospels are excluded because they’re not endorsed by the Church, not because anyone wants to keep them a secret from you or anyone.


“I would encourage you to do your research, checking carefully your sources to ensure that they are credible. There are plenty out there…good solid, well-documented sources…books that have been around for centuries that give a clear explanation of why some were included and some were not.
“However, I would like to point out that people who spout off what they’ve read from flippant internet websites whose only goal is to stir up controversies because that’s how they get the largest audiences, are usually not really interested in the truth at all. They are instead interested in words that sound fancy and scandalous, and I’m sorry to say, words that are offensive to believers in Christ…and they do it because it’s simply entertaining.
“On the other hand, there are countless cases of highly intelligent, self-proclaimed atheists who set out to prove exactly what you’re claiming. They did it in a way that uses the rules of investigation…gathering solid evidence, utilizing credible sources, and applying intelligence and logic…because they actually cared about the truth.


“These heavily burdened atheists have found the gospels you refer to are indeed false and unreliable, and the ones included in the New Testament stand firm under scrutiny. More often than not, in the end, these atheists have become believers in Christ.”


Well, that was it…that was what I wrote down. I’m not sure if I’ll remember it in a pinch. Maybe it takes even a little memorizing in order to make myself confident to speak out under pressure, but there’s nothing wrong with that as long as I remember something very important. These situations are always an attack. I have no doubt that my confused mind and inability to recall is not an accident. When these situations come up, the players are not only the non-Christian speaker and the Christian listener with the desire to evangelize. There are usually others around whose hearts are being influenced, and with ears pricked by the topic, they’re ready to hear the truth.

But in your hearts revere 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…

1 Peter 3:15

What I need to remember is that it’s not about winning an argument and coming out on top with a bloated head after putting another in his place. That’s not the heart of an evangelist. I may not have the facts of an apologist, but I do have the heart of an evangelist. You can catch more flies with honey, likewise, a kind, loving response will entice hearts and minds to look further, ask more questions, and hopefully give their life over to the only One who is the truth. Tell them that if they truly seek, ask, and knock, they WILL find the truth.

Ask and it will be given to you;

Seek and you will find;

Knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7

Amie Spruiell 1-28-11

Pressing On

Reprint of Devotional for Friday, July 16, 2010

“I press on toward the goal to win
the (supreme and heavenly) prize

to which God in Christ Jesus
is calling us upward.”

 Philippians 3:14

(Amplified Bible)

Pressing on, especially when you’re tired, takes focus and determination. It means not giving up, even when everything inside of you is screaming to quit. Pressing on takes strength and endurance. Pressing on will challenge you in every area of your being, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Pressing on takes faith and courage. It is the ability to see the finish line in your heart, even while the “race” seems to be more than you can bear. Pressing on is the ability to see those who are running beside you, those who are in front of you, and also those who are behind you. It is being encouraged by those who are ahead, and then turning to encourage those which are behind. It is knowing the kindness of being helped up when you have stumbled… and then being able to help others in the same way.

In my heart I see us all together, as a mighty army. I can almost hear the sound of a heavenly stampede, as our feet walk to the rhythm of our hearts. For we know that we do not “press on” without a purpose, but that there is a heavenly prize which awaits us. We know, and our hearts are assured that one day we will see Jesus face to face. Until the joy and wonder of that precious day arrives, pressing on teaches us to be effective and strong. It helps us to be unified and loving. It helps us to gain spiritual ground, and it gives us the ability to testify to the world, not by words… but by action.

Today I thank the Lord for the opportunities that He has given me to press on. I do not always like this “race” that we call life, or the difficult places that I seem to find myself in. But what I do like is that the Lord uses these situations and places in our lives to build us up, and to make us stronger. He takes the most difficult of times in our lives and uses them as an opportunity to reveal His strength, which He has placed inside of us. He uses these times to show us His compassion and His love, and He continues to help us, right when we need it the most.

Today I can only praise Him for His ability to press on towards the cross, a place that I cannot even imagine Him wanting to press on towards. I thank Him for His wisdom, His strength, and His love for pressing on. I thank Him that it was His love for you and I that kept Him going. I thank Him that He pressed on to the very end… for He knew that in completing all of that which had been set before Him, that He would purchase everlasting life and freedom for us all.

Written by Beverley A. Napier

The Next Step

Reprint of Devotional of Thursday, September 9, 2010

A phone call from my husband at 9:30am was unusual but not surprising. His words, “I’ve been laid off,” rocked my world. He sounded calm and confident that the Lord had a plan for us. I was determined to be supportive and not panic, I was grateful for his hour drive home so that I could prepare myself emotionally and mentally. Four months later my mind was fighting fear and keeping a tight grip on God's promises in scriptures.
Good morning, Lord,


Thank You for this new day. Thank You for the cozy comfort of a roof over my head and the protection of four walls. I have been wondering what Your plans are for this family? Should we go or should we stay? Do we move or do we sell? We wouldn’t be the first to give up what we love and cherish for the unknown. But it’s only unknown to us – You know everything. Your plan is a good one (Jer 29:11), please help me to believe and trust that with my whole heart.

I am afraid of not doing what You want me to do. I feel a little self-conscious making changes that other people might think are misguided. But You have put it in my heart to…move, sell, work, change, wait, say yes, forgive, start over, step back, go forward. Please show me the next step and help me to keep my eyes on You and to not worry about the road ahead.

Proverbs 3:5-6

       “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind
and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

In all your ways know, recognize and acknowledge Him,
and He will direct and make straight and make plain your path.”

(AMP)

Proverbs 29:25
“The fear of man brings a snare,

 but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord

is safe and set on high.”

(AMP)

PS: Lord, I admit I am still afraid of what people will think of me. In these trying times I can see that my family is truly what is important. Please help me to let go of my pride, my guilt and my sense of failure.


Written by Mary M. Wilkins

Rise Up In God's Courage and Strength

Embrace God's word out of Joshua 1:9 today. It says,"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." I find that passage to be very comforting and helpful every time I read it. Not only that, but God commands us to be strong and of good courage. He is telling us don't sit back and be passive and fragile and fearful. He specifically exhorts us to walk that courage and strength out. He reminds us that there is no place for fear or dismay, for God is forever with us regardless where we go.
These specific words give me great courage and strength, and the more that I allow God's words to go deep in my spirit, the more that courage and strength increase in my life.

In this life we will all have moments where fear and dismay will cross our paths. We can rise up to the call of God's commission to Joshua to walk in His strength, courage and understanding of His presence every day of our lifes.

Blessings,
Written by Sandy

Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Peter 1: 13-16

_______________________________________________________________

The apostle Peter provides the practical implications of this wonderful hope. Hope can go to work for us and do wonders. God's calling and purpose are certainly wonderful, but He does not intend that they set us off on a daydream. Peter is declaring a call to arms: "Pull yourself together!" "Roll up your sleeves!" "Give hard thought and wrestle with the practical implications of salvation."

Remember that the church is the community where God's truth is taken seriously, and His mind is being formed in its members. To paraphrase and expand, Peter is saying, "Look, brothers, we should not be superficial about this. Keep cool. Do not be impetuous. Avoid excesses. Live a plain life. Work hard, but set your hope in God's grace, not in your own willpower.

"Remember always that your obedience is to a gracious Person, not to a coldly calculating judge or to society. Holiness is not sanctimoniousness. It is being separated for a special purpose by special instructions and discipline. We have been called to perform a unique purpose. We have been called to glorify God by our lives as a witness to all who observe, and at the same time being prepared for His Kingdom. God wants us to have a passionate love for goodness, so in your mind give Him a unique place.

"Do not fear the enemy, as we would Christ. Use your hope to think about Him, His power, justice, wisdom, goodness, truth, omnipotence, and omniscience. Remember always that He has wisdom without error, power without limit, love without hatred. Our hope is in One who is great in every respect. Quit thinking of God in fleshly terms. He is not a limited man nor even a superman. He is GOD! He is with us, and so who can permanently harm us? Concentrate on being completely devoted to Him, and if we do this, we have every reason to hope. God is not a man that He should lie. His promises are sure."

submitted by: Annie

FREEDOM

devotion for Sunday and Monday  July 3 & 4, 2011


What is freedom? This is 4th of July weekend, the day we celebrate the adoption of our Declaration of Independence where we declared our freedom from British rule. Some of our basic individual freedoms were spelled out later in our Bill of Rights. During the Civil War President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which was a milestone toward freedom for slaves. Freedoms have had an important part in the shaping of America. What does freedom mean to you?

Most of us consider freedom to be liberation, to be without confinement or restraint. Freedom can indicate physically being released from something, like being freed from prison, or from a physical ailment like being free of cancer after treatment. Or it can be an emotional freedom, like being free from worry. Sometimes it refers to a psychological state, such as freedom from depression. Or it can be a recovery from something such as an addiction, a freedom from compulsion to abuse certain things. We can be weighed down by things in this world, sometimes to the point of despair. Sometimes we cannot see how we can ever be truly free from some of our troubles. We cry out to Jesus to hear our prayers. Sometimes it feels like he doesn't hear us, because we don't see or feel the freedom that we desire. Sometimes that freedom comes more slowly than we anticipate, or even not at all the way we expect it. God does promise to provide us with the strength that we need to make it through, and to bless us regardless of the outcome. But God promises a much more important freedom that only He can give, freedom from slavery to sin. This is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

(Jesus read from Isaiah in the synagogue): 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:18-19 NIV

With freedom comes responsibility. We are not to take advantage of that free gift of life by continuing in sinfulness. We are to shun sin and to serve others.

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13 NIV

We should seek to share the free gift of eternal life with all whom we meet. Out of thanks for what God has done for us we strive to live a Godly life, which also becomes a witness to others of his great love.

41 May your unfailing love come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to your promise; 42 then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word. 43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws. 44 I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. 45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. Psalm 119:41-45 NIV

We have to use our freedom wisely and understand that not everyone in the world understands the meaning of that freedom. So we need to be careful what our actions say to other people. We should avoid offending others while at the same time maintaining integrity of our faith in Jesus and put the needs of unsaved souls above our own needs.

23 “I have the right [freedom] to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 NIV


Ironically then, our freedom can lead us to restraint, in order to become "all things to all people" in order to share salvation with them:

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NIV

So then, we come full circle. First we are slaves to sin, then we are set free in Christ, this leads to becoming slaves to the Gospel... but that sets others free! Hallelujah! Freedom to be a redeemed child of God! God bless us, every one! Amen.

Written by Jan Andersen

It’s What You Were Created For!

Devotional for July 2, 2011

This is not our permanent place of residence. This is not what we were created to live in. This is not our final destination. By “this” I mean this world, this life, this reality we’re living in right now. I doubt if any atheists read these devotionals, but nevertheless, I have an excellent analogy to share just in case there is any doubt in someone’s mind about this life and our true final destination.

Suppose you could have a conversation with an embryo while he is still in his mother’s womb. Let’s say that you were to tell him that this life he is experiencing is just something temporary. There is another one to follow and that his current one is actually short compared to the next. Then imagine he would answer with skepticism saying that you are speaking foolishly, and there is nothing beyond what he is experiencing and in fact, he is perfectly fine accepting his truth.

What if when the embryo grew into a fetus, he would remember the conversation and observe things changing in himself? Suppose he would ponder, “Here arms grow on me. I do not need them. I cannot even stretch them. Why do they grow? Could it be that they grow for a future stage of my existence, in which I would have to work with them? Legs also grow, but I have to keep them bent toward my chest. Why do they grow? Perhaps life in a large world follows where I will have to walk. Eyes grow even though I am surrounded by complete darkness. Why do I have eyes? I wonder if life in a world with light and colors will follow.”

So, if a fetus could reflect on his own development, he could see life outside of his mother’s womb as a possibility and even reasonable. So it is with us. As long as we are young, we have strength and energy, but our mind is not yet equipped to wisely take advantage of such vigor. As we grow older in years, we also grow in knowledge and wisdom, but our physical body becomes weak and frail. Why? Are our minds to develop only to take us to the grave? Why does an embryo grow into a fetus and a fully developed baby? It is for what follows…and we too are being prepared for what follows. We grow in experience, knowledge and wisdom for a greater purpose. It is to prepare us to serve on a higher level that follows death. (Story is adapted from Richard Wurmbrand’s, Tortured for Christ.)

For we know that

if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed,

we have a building from God,

an eternal house in heaven,

not built by human hands.

2 Corinthians 5:1

Isn’t it a beautiful analogy? We truly are being prepared for what follows because this is not our final destination. We were created to live a much greater life in a world we cannot even fathom. We were created to live in eternity with Christ. This brings to my mind another great Christian man of the 20th century, C.S. Lewis.

Lewis spoke about us being eternal creatures stuck in time. It’s a struggle for us to live in time. It sometimes makes no sense to us. When time and separation passes between visits with loved ones, we seem to be surprised to see a child has grown up, or a young adult has become mature. Many of us struggle to be on time. We look at the clock and observe that we have plenty of time before an event in order to get ready, but before we know it, we’re 5 minutes late. While we’re working, time goes by slow, but while we’re playing, it goes by quickly. Why? Why do we struggle to have a sense of time? Why do we not have a clock ticking inside of our brains constantly reminding us that we are living in time? The answer is because we are eternal creatures.

He has made everything

beautiful in its time.

He has also set eternity in the human heart;

yet no one can fathom

what God has done from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

We are truly created for a greater purpose, a greater life outside of time, when our minds are fully ready to process the wonders of that life with Jesus forever. This life is not only a prerequisite to another, but it is temporary. However, too many think and live as if they have eternity to make a decision to believe and follow the One who longs to welcome us into our final destination.

We may be eternal creatures, but the truth is, we are now living in time and time will run out. This brings one more point to my mind. In the book of Exodus is the story of the first Passover. As God was in the process of freeing His people, now large enough to become a nation, from the yoke of slavery in Egypt, He poured out the final plague on Pharaoh and the Egyptians. It was death of the first born. The children of Israel had specific instructions to follow in order for the Lord to pass over their households so they would not suffer the plague of death. Of all the wonderful lessons to be learned from that story, what comes to my mind right now is how they were told to accomplish all of their duties with their staff in hand, their garment tucked into their belt, and their sandals on their feet. Why? They were to be prepared. They were to be prepared to leave one life and enter into another life…free from slavery.

Now, it’s true, as Christians we are no longer slaves to sin, but living in this life we are forced to remain in a world that is fallen. However, Jesus tells us to be ready. Always be ready for His coming, for in a twinkling of an eye we will be caught up with Him to be taken to the banquet table of the bride and the Bridegroom. We will be at the celebration of the marriage feast of the church body, the body of Christ, and our Lord and Savior! What a glorious day!

Do you have your staff? Are your sandals on? Are you ready to leave this temporary life and enter eternity? I’m sure if you are reading this, you know that you were not created for one life only and then to simply rot in the dirt alone. You were created for something much greater, more beautiful than you can imagine and it’s to last forever! You don’t want to miss out on it. Be ready!

You also must be ready,

because the Son of Man will come

at an hour when you do not expect him.

Luke 12:40

Amie Spruiell 7/1/2011