2022-10-07
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Let me repeat HE 10: 24-25, from last week, due to its important message. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day [of the Lord] approaching.” Deep and abiding faith, just like friendship or marriage, must be a living, dynamic entity in our lives. These relationships will starve and lose their very lives when not nourished with dedication and good actions.
Let’s look at some of the problems associated with disconnection. People who are withdrawn may be quietly suffering because they fear no one cares about them. Irritatingly vocal people may be using the only way they know to call for help. Because these people feel like outsiders, we as believers in Christ need to have the courage to approach them. We need to be sensitive to where they are in their walk with the Lord or even stopped in it. Consider the Lord Jesus’ words in JN 15: 5, “I am the Vine and you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” Needless to say, we must be sensitive to the needs of the disconnected people we encounter and find a way that doesn’t put them on the spot or hurt their feelings to let them know we care. There’s an art to doing this, and prayer before you approach them is very much indicated. JN 15: 7 tells us that if we humbly ask the Lord in prayer for His advice, He will give it. We must learn to become active listeners, so that we can accurately gauge the needs of the person we want to help. If our request is in line with the Lord’s will, He will give us what we need. We should bear in mind what verses 16 -17 of JN 15 reminds us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit---fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you. This is My command: Love each other.”
With the courage of our convictions and knowledge from studying the Scriptures, we as believers can go forward with the hope of enriching the lives of unbelievers with faith-building. I believe there are some people we shouldn’t approach this way. One’s own family might be an example, as mine is. (My family is traditionally Jewish and I don’t feel it is appropriate to try to share my Judeo-Christian beliefs with them. They have made it clear that any “proselytizing” on the part of any believer in another belief system is unwelcome). One might ask, how do I live in the same household with them? I claim RO 11: 25-26, “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob.’” This is a passage that helps me to limit my witnessing to those open to it and lifts the worry from my shoulders about the fate of good Jewish people. Since many innocents in my own family were exterminated from the earth in the Pogroms of eastern Europe and the Holocaust, this means a lot to me.
Just as the Lord has lifted us from this concern, we should indeed accurately, using a solid knowledge of the Scriptures, answer the questions of seekers. I did this for several years in real-time computer chats for the Toronto-based organization, In Search of Shalom. Every type of seeker imaginable from all over the world posted their questions, which led to these computer chats. Often, the same individual would “chat-in” more than once. A great blessing in my life was when a seeker I had come to know told me, “as a result of our conversations, I have decided to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.” I followed certain guidelines, given to me in response to prayer by the Lord, which really says He deserves all the credit for any success I had. We must remember that vocal witnessing is only one way, others come to Christ. The example of one’s life the way it is lived in line with Gospel truth is another way. More on that next time.
PRAYER: O Lord, the mystery that was long held is described in COL 1: 26-27 and 2: 2-3. It is Christ in the hearts of believers, allowing them to tap into Your great wisdom and to love one another, as You love us. You cause us to come alive in You and to fall in love with Your teaching through the Bible. There are dangers to being disconnected intellectually, emotionally, physically, and spiritually from You and other good people around us. We need to understand Your love for us, which is both active and transformational. In addition, we know we must practice that kind of love in our everyday lives. Please help and guide us in doing that, as we serve others in Your name. Thank You and we praise You for all the blessings You bestow upon us. We pledge our desire to serve You all the days left of our lives. In the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: The example we set as we live our lives can be a catalyst for bringing potential believers into Christ’s flock. I have not forgotten that the overarching subject of these messages is the gifts of the Holy Spirit. There is real lasting love and joy to be had in bringing others to Christ. Next week, the Holy Spirit commands me to discuss these cures to the dangers of disconnection that the Lord gives us. 2 TIM 3: 16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” There is no challenge, loss, or trouble that we experience that the Lord hasn’t covered. 1 COR 10: 13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you will endure it.” Our resolve to live useful, worthy lives is in place; it is the Lord Jesus Christ!
Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2022. All Rights Reserved.
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