Category: From Pastor

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

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Semper paratus.

Long before the United States Coast Guard adopted this phrase as their motto and the song by the same name was penned in 1928, the phrase was used by the Apostle Peter.  Just for fun and anyone who knows Latin, here’s 1 Peter 3:15 from the Latin Vulgate:

Dominum autem Christum sanctificate in cordibus vestris parati semper ad satisfactionem omni poscenti vos rationem de ea quae in vobis est spe

And the translation:

But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy everyone that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you.

Anyone who understands the importance of their work will take time to prepare themselves so that whenever they are called on to perform, they can function at their best.

Military…trains for months and years to be ready for any mission they are sent on.

Sports…athletes train for years to give their best contribution to the team when they are asked to perform.

Musicians…practice tirelessly so they can play the finest of music when a concert calls.

The list goes on.  Everyone who understands the importance of their craft and realizes the privilege they have to participate in that craft prepares so they are semper paratus…always prepared.

So Peter realizes and passes on to us the importance of being prepared to “satisfy everyone that asketh you a reason of that hope which is you.” (Got to love the King James English!)

So are you prepared?  If someone would ask you today the reason you find hope in Jesus, what would you say?  Would you be clear or fumble through it?

The great thing about being prepared to give a reason for the hope we have is simply as soon as God’s Spirit works a confident trust in Jesus as your Savior and you realize that instead of heading to hell you are heading to heaven, you have everything you need to be ready to give a reason for the hope you have!

Perhaps it’s as simple as taking time today to ask the question, “What difference does it make in my life that I am a Christian?”  “What hope do I have because of Jesus that others in the world don’t?”  

Over the next weeks our “Explore God” series is intended to do two things. First solidify in our own hearts and minds answers to life’s key questions. And second to be better prepared to give an answer to all who ask these questions of us.  I pray the messages and the devotions are a blessing to you!

 

PRAYER: Lord God, thank you for all the hope you have given me through Jesus your Son.  Help me semper paratus to give a reason for the hope you have given to me when ever someone asks. AMEN.

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

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It’s not what you said.  It’s how you said it.

Have you ever received this comment or said it to someone?

Inflection and tone are ways the communicate what is going on in the heart over what comes out of the head.

One can say, “I love you” with tenderness and genuine emotion as you look into the eys of your spouse.

One can say, “I love you, too!” with anger and bitterness in response to someone who cut them off in traffic or did something that you didn’t think you deserved.

We can do the same thing when we witness.

“Jesus loves you!” spoken with a tone of love and care to a person in tears who just realized for the first time they were fully forgiven comes from a heart of love.

“Jesus loves you!” spoken to a person you just had a disagreement with and have resentment and anger but perhaps Jesus still loves them communicates very differently.

How we give a reason for the hope we have is equally important that what we say when we communicate the hope we have in Jesus.  The Apostle Peter knew that the temptation when speaking with conviction about our faith was to do it in a way that was forceful and disrespectful.  So he said this:

1 Peter 3:15-17 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. 

The tone of our voice can communicate the status of our heart.  People can still speak against the words we share, disagree with what we stand for or speak maliciously against our good behavior.  However, they will be in the wrong, not you.  For in communicating the hope we have in Jesus with gentleness and respect will leave our hearts with a clear conscience before God and mankind.  We have given them no reason to speak against us.  If they do, they are the ones in the wrong.

Remember, what we communicate comes from our minds.  How we communicate comes from our heart.  Both have to be prepared to engage in conversations that may have opportunity to be rude and contentious, but our hearts and minds are covered with the armor of God so that we can speak the truth in love, with gentleness and respect.

 

Apply: Consider past situations where you have spoken with a lack of gentleness and respect?  What has been the outcome compared to a time where you were able to speak with gentleness and respect.

Prayer: Lord, fill my heart with your love so that my words are always true, seasoned with gentleness and respect.  AMEN

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.