10 March 2017
Ready?
1 Peter 3:15
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
Sometimes Christians get carried away with their personal preferences and convictions that they mix those things into conversation instead of just conveying the Good News. If a Believer doesn’t own a tv, for example, it’s probably because they lack self control and the Holy Spirit has led them to get rid of things that would swallow up all their time and attention. A former alcoholic mostly likely has strong convictions about never entering a bar. Does that mean that all Christians should never drink a beer while watching tv? Is abstaining from various things for various reasons all that other people know about us?
I think that personal convictions are private. Like when Jesus was talking about fasting, also a private conviction, he said NOT to make a public spectacle of it.
And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)
You must worship Christ as Lord of your life... Convictions are not what we worship, and they are not what we are instructed to always be ready to explain. Explaining all your do’s and don’ts to unbelievers will not invite anyone into a relationship with God.
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (Romans 2:4)
Has God done anything amazing in my life? Has knowing Jesus changed they way I live? Does God’s Holy Spirit instruct and help me all the time? Yes, YES and YESSSS! That is what people should know about me. That’s what I must be ready at all times to share.
Believers don’t have to prep for debate with every encounter. What will speak the most to others is sharing our changed lives. Stuart McAllister says, “The person with experience is not at the mercy of the person with only an argument.” This means that no one can argue with your own personal experience. The man born blind whom Jesus healed was grilled for hours by the Pharisees, but his response to them could not be debated. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” (John 9:25)
That is our testimony too! I used to be this, but now I’m not. I used to be angry, and now I’m not. I used to hold grudges, and now I don’t. I used to lie all the time, and now I don’t want to. I used to be selfish, and now I help others... Whatever it is that changed about us since we encountered Jesus is what we should always, always, always be ready to share.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for what you have done in my life! Over and over again you make me better and love me so much. I have hope, joy, and peace in situations where my unbelieving counterparts would have discouragement, anger, and dread. Let the changes you make in me be what people see. I am thankful for the personal convictions you bless me with to keep my mind on you; thank you so much for giving me so much personal attention. You are so good to me and I desire to remind people of your kindness and goodness every single day. And I pray in your name, amen.
Ready?
1 Peter 3:15
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
Sometimes Christians get carried away with their personal preferences and convictions that they mix those things into conversation instead of just conveying the Good News. If a Believer doesn’t own a tv, for example, it’s probably because they lack self control and the Holy Spirit has led them to get rid of things that would swallow up all their time and attention. A former alcoholic mostly likely has strong convictions about never entering a bar. Does that mean that all Christians should never drink a beer while watching tv? Is abstaining from various things for various reasons all that other people know about us?
I think that personal convictions are private. Like when Jesus was talking about fasting, also a private conviction, he said NOT to make a public spectacle of it.
And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)
You must worship Christ as Lord of your life... Convictions are not what we worship, and they are not what we are instructed to always be ready to explain. Explaining all your do’s and don’ts to unbelievers will not invite anyone into a relationship with God.
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (Romans 2:4)
Has God done anything amazing in my life? Has knowing Jesus changed they way I live? Does God’s Holy Spirit instruct and help me all the time? Yes, YES and YESSSS! That is what people should know about me. That’s what I must be ready at all times to share.
Believers don’t have to prep for debate with every encounter. What will speak the most to others is sharing our changed lives. Stuart McAllister says, “The person with experience is not at the mercy of the person with only an argument.” This means that no one can argue with your own personal experience. The man born blind whom Jesus healed was grilled for hours by the Pharisees, but his response to them could not be debated. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” (John 9:25)
That is our testimony too! I used to be this, but now I’m not. I used to be angry, and now I’m not. I used to hold grudges, and now I don’t. I used to lie all the time, and now I don’t want to. I used to be selfish, and now I help others... Whatever it is that changed about us since we encountered Jesus is what we should always, always, always be ready to share.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for what you have done in my life! Over and over again you make me better and love me so much. I have hope, joy, and peace in situations where my unbelieving counterparts would have discouragement, anger, and dread. Let the changes you make in me be what people see. I am thankful for the personal convictions you bless me with to keep my mind on you; thank you so much for giving me so much personal attention. You are so good to me and I desire to remind people of your kindness and goodness every single day. And I pray in your name, amen.
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