Dear Daily Message Readers,
READ: Acts 4:1-22
Acts 4:21 (NKJV) "So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done."
One of my majors here at college is communication. As you can imagine, we do a lot of talking and discussing in classes. From public speeches to small group chats, there is no end to what we "comm" majors will talk about.
Yet when it comes to talking about Christ, I have often myself having a hard time verbalizing certain words and phrases about my beliefs. Perhaps at times I feel incredibly awkward or fear that I am going to be laughed at, rejected, or humbled. Whatever the reason may be, the following statements are a glimpse into what I might fail to say during my verbal freezes even though I actually believe them:
Yet Peter quickly became a bold witness in the days after Jesus was crucified and had been resurrected. In Acts 4, for example, we read how he stood up to the zealous Jewish leaders who demanded that he quit telling people about Jesus Christ or face punishment. In one of his most shining moments, Peter told them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (4:19-20)
You may find yourself in a tough, sticky situation today where it may seem impossible to say the right words. You might just have a verbal freeze. But like Peter, depend on the Holy Spirit and make it your prayer to please the Lord above all else (Colossians 3:17). After all, His opinion is the only one that matters.
Faith Lesson: To speak and live effectively for Christ, we must depend on the Holy Spirit to carry us through.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the Daily Message Devotional's new and full-featured website at http://www.dailymessage.org
To subscribe to the Daily Message Devotional mailing list, please send a blank email to UICDevotions-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
READ: Acts 4:1-22
Acts 4:21 (NKJV) "So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done."
One of my majors here at college is communication. As you can imagine, we do a lot of talking and discussing in classes. From public speeches to small group chats, there is no end to what we "comm" majors will talk about.
Yet when it comes to talking about Christ, I have often myself having a hard time verbalizing certain words and phrases about my beliefs. Perhaps at times I feel incredibly awkward or fear that I am going to be laughed at, rejected, or humbled. Whatever the reason may be, the following statements are a glimpse into what I might fail to say during my verbal freezes even though I actually believe them:
- I believe Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to heaven.
- I am a follower of Jesus Christ.
- Would you like to come to church with me on Sunday?
- No, I won't do that. God wants me to be pure.
- I believe that what the Bible says is true.
Yet Peter quickly became a bold witness in the days after Jesus was crucified and had been resurrected. In Acts 4, for example, we read how he stood up to the zealous Jewish leaders who demanded that he quit telling people about Jesus Christ or face punishment. In one of his most shining moments, Peter told them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (4:19-20)
You may find yourself in a tough, sticky situation today where it may seem impossible to say the right words. You might just have a verbal freeze. But like Peter, depend on the Holy Spirit and make it your prayer to please the Lord above all else (Colossians 3:17). After all, His opinion is the only one that matters.
Faith Lesson: To speak and live effectively for Christ, we must depend on the Holy Spirit to carry us through.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the Daily Message Devotional's new and full-featured website at http://www.dailymessage.org
To subscribe to the Daily Message Devotional mailing list, please send a blank email to UICDevotions-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
