Tell Someone About Jesus

Do you have an answer when asked about being saved? Do you know what to tell someone who asks? Will you be able to tell them what they need to do? Would you like to know what to say? Have you considered following the example the Apostle Paul gave us?

We may be put in a situation where someone may ask us how they can be saved. They may not ask it just that way, but they ask it in one form or another. Knowing how to answer them may seem to be tricky. However, it is not really that difficult.

The simple answer is just what the Apostle Paul told the jailer who had imprisoned him and Silas, “Believe in Jesus and you will be saved.” Some of you may ask about baptism. Sure, that should be done as well. After all, baptism is our outward profession of faith.

But take note of what Paul did following his basic statement. He told them about Jesus. Could he tell them everything about Jesus? No, probably not. But he would have told them what they needed to know to believe in Him. We can do the same. We all know at least some of the stories about Jesus, even if we cannot quote them verbatim. We can tell of Him performing miracles of healing, raising the dead, or forgiving the woman caught in adultery. We can tell them of Him meeting with the woman at the well, sending the disciples out to speak about Him, or maybe even remember a few of the parables.

Each one of us can tell someone what they need to do to be saved. We can help them come into the kingdom of God. We can bring them to Jesus, just as the Apostle Paul did. We don’t need to be an apostle nor have fancy degrees. All we need to do is tell them about Jesus.

I pray we all know that we can tell someone how to be saved. I pray we lead people to Jesus Christ. I pray each one of us will take time to tell someone who is seeking about Jesus. Trust that you have the knowledge. Tell someone about Jesus. Tell them how to be saved. Lead them into the kingdom of God.

Acts 16:31-32 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.

Be Saved

Have you been in need of saving? Were you in a bad situation and needed rescue? Was there a time in which you needed someone desperately to reach out a helping hand? Are you in that situation now? Do you know you need to be saved? Do you know who can save you?

We all go through good times and bad times. Some of us may have gone through some very bad times in our lives. Others of us may have bad times ahead of us. In those times we need family and friends to help us through. We may lean very heavily on them to get through it.

We have come to expect bad times, but we also need being saved during good times. In fact, it may be during very good times that we most need saving. Why? We do not realize we need saving. We think we have the world by the tail. We are running through life riding our high horse. Nothing can stop us. Until…it all comes crashing down.

The bottom line is this: we all need saving. Jesus came into the world to save the world. He came to free us from our sin, our culture, oppression, and ourselves. Left to our own devices, we will walk down the path to destruction. It is only by walking with Jesus that we walk the path of salvation. He is the cornerstone, the One on which the entire kingdom of God is built.

When we turn our lives over to Him, we are saved. We may think we are fine, but we are not, if our lives are not built on Jesus. We may make lots of money. We have great jobs. We may have a wonderful spouse. We may raise good kids. But we still need to be saved.

I pray we all choose to be saved by Jesus. I pray we decide to build our lives on the Cornerstone. I pray each one of us will give our lives to Jesus and walk the path of salvation with Him. Know that you need to be saved. Choose to allow Jesus to save you. Build your life on Him. Walk the path of salvation.

Acts 4:11-12 Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

The Good Shepherd’s Voice

Do you know people by their voice? Do you know, without seeing, your mother or father’s voice? Do you know your boss’s voice? Do you know your spouses’ voice? How many voices do you know? Do you know the voice of God when you hear it?

We know the voice of many people. We have heard them so often that we can identify their voice, even if it is somewhat distorted. Each person has a uniqueness about their voice. That is why kids know exactly whose mom is yelling for them to come home, even if their names are not called out.

But do we know the voice of God? Jesus tells us the sheep know the shepherd’s voice. Have you ever seen a shepherd walking across a pasture with sheep following behind? I have. It is quite an interesting sight. The shepherd walks along, calling the sheep by making little noises, and they obediently follow behind. The sheep know the shepherd will lead them to food and water.

We are to have the same level of trust with God. In order to know his voice, we must learn to listen for it. Much like the sheep and the shepherd, we must experience following God, and learn to trust that he will lead us to what we need. It starts with small steps and continues to increase as we experience his leading.

Unfortunately, just like sheep, we can be lured away by something shiny that catches our attention. So, we must listen at all times, keeping our focus on the shepherd. We must recognize those other voices as a stranger, someone who means to do us harm rather than good.

I pray we all listen for the voice of God—the Good Shepherd. I pray we keep our focus on him. I pray each one of us will follow the voice of God, experience him, and learn to trust him in all situations. Know the Shepherd’s voice. Stay focused on him. Experience him. Trust God.

John 10:4-5 “When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

Life in the Son

Have you experienced a rebirth? Have you been born of both water and spirit? Do you know a rebirth is needed to be in the body of Christ? Have you believed in Jesus’ testimony? Do you believe He is the Son of God? Do you believe He was risen on the third day?

There are many people in this world who have either not heard the whole story of Jesus or they do not believe it. For those who have heard the whole story and still do not believe, there is not much we can do for them. It is now up to God to change their hearts.

However, for those who have not heard the whole story, whether just fragments or nothing at all, we can be the messenger of God to them. We can tell them how the Son of God came to earth, born as a newborn to Mary and Joseph. We can tell of Him going to the cross to save us from our own sin. We can tell them there is a perfect eternity calling out to them and the calling comes from Jesus. We can tell them our own story, how Jesus has changed our lives for the better.

We can relay the story as the Apostle John did in 1 John 5:6-8, “This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.” There is eyewitness testimony about Jesus. In fact, there are several eyewitnesses who have testified about Him.

As John goes on to say in verses 9 and 10, we are willing to accept human testimony, whether it be in a courtroom or workplace or daily conversation. If we are willing to do that, why do we not accept the eyewitness testimony about Jesus? Perhaps we should reconsider. Perhaps we should accept the eyewitness testimony about Jesus and accept Him.

I pray we all decide to accept the eyewitness testimony about Jesus. I pray we accept Jesus for who He is. I pray each one of us will review the testimony and tell others about Him. Review the testimony. Believe the testimony. Tell others about Jesus. Be a positive impact on someone else.

1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Seek God’s Kingdom

What is your number one priority? What is it you are chasing after? What are you trying to achieve? Is it seeking a higher education? Is it seeking a new job? Is it seeking a companion? Is it seeking to help others? Is it seeking financial security? Is it seeking a solid retirement?

We seek many things in our lives. Our top priority changes depending on our current situation, where we are on the road of life. When we are younger, we seek education, a companion, and a job we believe we will like. As we get older, our priorities change, often focusing on retirement.

All of those are important to us and we should put them toward the top of our list. Yet, they should not override our desire to seek God’s kingdom. Making God our top priority will put all other priorities into perspective. By making him our top priority, he will provide all we need.

How do we make God our top priority? That is a question we may be wrestling with. We have many other things vying for our attention. The best way to make God our top priority is to set aside each day for him. It may be fifteen minutes while we drink our morning coffee. It may be a half-hour while we are working out. It may be fifteen minutes of quiet time before we go to bed. No matter when it is, we need it to be a time of prayer and reading God’s Word. It needs to be a dedicated time in which we can focus on him.

As we get in the habit of spending time with God, he further inhabits our thoughts. The more he is in our thoughts, the more we listen for his guidance. Eventually, we allow him to guide all our thoughts in all situations. It is not a quick process, but it is well worth it. The more our decisions are based on God’s guidance, the better our lives will be.

I pray we all make God our top priority. I pray we set aside time to spend with God each day. I pray each one of us will filter our decisions through God, allowing his guidance to take over our lives. Seek God. Make him your top priority. Allow God to guide you. Set aside time to spend with God. Live a better life.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Go as You are Called

Have you traveled to a different country? Have you been the one who stands out as the foreigner? Have you been the one who could not understand the language? Did you go because you wanted to go? Or did you go because you were told to go?

Going to a different country can be a little scary. If the country is a friendly country to your own, it may be a little less scary. But if you do not know the language, you can still experience some difficulties and embarrassing moments in your attempts to get where you planned to go.

On the other hand, there is a lot of international travel in our world today. Perhaps not quite as much as a few years ago, but it is fast approaching those numbers again. So, it may be a little more challenging for us to put ourselves in the shoes of Abraham (Abram) when he is told by God to pick up and leave his homeland.

We know of people who go live in another country for several years. I have lived in another country for a total of four years myself. But I can honestly say, I did not feel like Abraham. I was going with hundreds of my fellow countrymen and knew I would not be solely on my own. Abraham was going to be going it alone, with the exception of his wife and a handful of servants. He was the leader. He had to make the decisions. He had to find grasslands to feed his flock and food for his traveling party.

Abraham put his faith in God. He trusted God when he told him he would become a great nation. Yet, Abraham also had to know that would not happen overnight. And imagine what Sarah (Sarai) might have thought when her husband came to tell her that God told him to move to a different country. She might have thought the sun had gotten to him and he had lost his mind. Yet, today, we point to Abraham’s faith, and we should include Sarah’s faith, as an example of following God’s plan rather than their own. They are a good example for us to follow.

I pray we all put our faith in God and his plan. I pray we go where God calls us to go. I pray each one of us decide to seek God’s plan for our lives and follow it wherever it may lead and do what he calls us to do. Put your faith in God. Seek God’s plan for you. God where God calls you to go. Do what God calls you to do.

Genesis 12:1-2 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”

Tempted in Weakness

Have you been tempted? Have you been sorely tempted when you were at a weak point in your life? Was it after you had gone through a horrendous accident? Was it after you had a relationship fall apart? Was it while you were recovering from an extensive surgery?

It often seems as though the most severe temptations come while we are at our weakest. Of course, that is when we most need to rely on God. Through our weakness God is shown to be strong. He will work through us when we cannot work on our own.

Jesus, as a human, was at his weakest point after fasting for forty days and nights. Matthew understates it when he says Jesus was famished. In all likelihood, Jesus was near death after having not eaten for forty days. However, that was not His destiny nor was this the end of His mission. In fact, it was the beginning of His mission.

Satan comes swooping in to attempt to take advantage of Jesus in His decimated physical state. He hoped to trick Jesus into giving up on His mission. Satan made big promises for which Jesus had an answer, a quote from Scripture.

In the end, because Jesus stood strong in God, Satan left Him. Satan realized he was getting nowhere and his temptations would not work. We, too, can stand strong in God, and Satan will leave us, too. God will always stand with his servants. He will always give them strength to withstand Satan’s temptations. We simply need to remember that and rely upon God.

I pray we all stand strong in God. I pray we ask God for the strength we need to withstand Satan’s temptations. I pray each one of us will hold fast to our faith, using Jesus as our role model. Resist the devil. Stand in your faith. Trust God to strengthen you. Lean on God when you are at your weakest.

Matthew 4:1-2 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.

Hear God Speak

Do you hear God speaking to you? Or has your heart been hardened so you cannot hear him? Could it be that you have rebelled against him? Have you given your heart over to this world? Do you blame God for the bad that happens in this world?

There are many in this world who blame God or ask how God can allow bad things to happen to good people. Unfortunately, we live in a world that has been broken for thousands of years. God allows us to make choices. He allows every person on this planet to make choices.

One choice we have is to hear God or continue with hardened hearts and refuse to hear him. We may not hear him in an audible voice. But we can hear him in many other ways. We can hear him through the voice of the Holy Spirit who lives within us. We can hear him through his Holy Word. We can hear him through messengers he sends our way. So, how do we hear him?

First, our hearts must be softened. We must be open to hearing him speak. We must be willing to listen for his message. It is only when we are willing and open to hearing him with a softened heart that we will hear him. And you want to know what is amazing? Once we start hearing him, we discover that he speaks to us quite often—far more than we might believe.

The Israelites hardened their hearts and refused to hear him. It was only after they repented and turned back to him that they heard him once again. We can learn a lesson from their experience. We can learn from our own experiences. It is time we stop ignoring God and start listening—through his Word, his Holy Spirit, his messengers, and perhaps even an audible voice.

I pray we all decide to listen for God to speak. I pray we hear him by reading his Word. I pray each one of us will ask God to soften our hearts so we may hear him when he speaks to us. Read God’s Word. Listen for God to speak. Hear him when he does. Soften your heart.

Hebrews 3:7-9 So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did.”

Reward for Suffering

Are you being tested in your faith? Do you pass tests of your faith well? Or do you often fail those tests? Do you view those tests as being part of the body of Christ? Do you rejoice in being tested? Do you remind yourself that suffering through those tests will bring joy?

Most of us do not like tests. In fact, some of us do not perform well on written tests for school or work. Being tested in our mental or physical abilities can be difficult, and we do not like difficulties. Yet, difficulties can help us grow and mature throughout our life.

The Apostle Peter calls these tests fiery ordeals. Some of them may very well be extremely tough. They may make us want to give up, stop in our tracks, reverse our direction. That is exactly what Satan wants us to do. But if we lean on God to help us go through them, we come out of them stronger, having a deeper faith, and experiencing more joy.

Perhaps one way for us to view those tests is to see them as a challenge. Some of us like challenges. Whether it is the challenge of two-a-day football practices, learning a new language, or rehabilitating after an injury. We have a desire to continue working to get through those challenges. Why? We know there is a reward waiting on the other side of them.

There is also a reward when we suffer through the fiery ordeals Peter talks about. That reward is being overjoyed when Christ returns. That may seem to be a long way off for us, but it will happen in the blink of an eye. The older I get, the faster time flies by. It seems like just yesterday I was traveling back and forth to California for work. Yet, it has been more than three years.

Suffering through tests of our faith, trusting in God to get us through them, is for our benefit. It is also for the glory of God. Our faith is strengthened and deepened. The light of Jesus shines through us brighter. We become an example for others to follow. It is not easy, but it is well worth it.

I pray we all suffer through our tests by looking to the joy to come. I pray we lean on God to help us through those tests. I pray each one of us will view our tests as a challenge that will strengthen us. Suffer as Christ suffered. Lean on God. Trust God to get you through the tests. Look to the reward. Suffer for the glory of God. Be an example for others.

1 Peter 4:12-13 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

The Root Cause

Why is there death in this world? Why is there corruption? Why is there oppression? Why is there injustice? Why are there hurting people everywhere we turn? Why is there pain, suffering, tears, hate, fear, and all the negatives we can think of?

The one-word answer to all those questions is—sin. We don’t talk much about sin. Instead, we talk about choices and decisions. We will say a person who is suffering made a choice. Or we say they are suffering due to a bad decision. We don’t speak of sin being the reason.

Sin is the impetus for the bad choices and decisions. It is the brokenness we all experience behind the suffering we experience in this world. None of us are immune to it. Each one of us is broken. We all sin. We all contribute to the suffering, sometimes unknowingly or without intending to. What can we do about it?

The first thing we need to do is accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Our next step is to repent of our sins. As we seek to improve ourselves and the world, we need to ask Jesus to guide us with His Holy Spirit so as to eliminate or, minimally, reduce our sinful behavior.

Our sinfulness impacts others. Therefore, the sinfulness of others impacts us. Our world in interconnected, whether we want it to be or not. A decision made by one person today impacts someone else who then makes a decision that impacts yet another. If we think about it too much, it can cause our heads to ache.

What we simply need to be aware of is that our choices and decisions have an impact on others. What do we need to keep in mind? We need to decide we will have a positive impact or a negative impact. Often, it may simply be our tone of voice and body language that turns a comment from a negative to a positive or vice versa. So, we need to be aware of these as much as the words we speak. It’s all about attitude and awareness.

I pray we all decide to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. I pray we repent of our sins. I pray each one of us will seek to have a positive impact through our behavior, tone, and body language. Accept Jesus as Lord. Accept Jesus as Savior. Repent of your sins. Decide to have a positive impact. Ask Jesus to guide you through His Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned