Tag: Devotion

Bible Verse · Devotion

Spread the Gospel

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I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7, ESV

As a Christian it can be overwhelming knowing the ONE thing we are to do is spread the gospel. To tell everyone we meet the message of the cross. To lead them to the saving knowledge of the one true God. That’s no small feet.

But as Paul tells the church of Corinth in the above passage (the I refers to Paul), we only play a part in spreading the gospel. We might be a seed planter, like Paul, who is the first to share the message of eternal life with Christ – this free gift available to all. Or we might be like Apollos (a teacher who’s story is told more in 2 Corinthians), someone watering the seed, who continues to share the message and maybe fills in the blanks, give more information, or just encourages someone further along into excepting Christ.

Here is the thing, those rolls are important, BUT you see that next part in that list? It tells us that only God can cause that seed to grow. This doesn’t diminish our roll but reminds us that the power comes through Christ in us as we share the message. We have to do our part in the garden of saving souls, but ultimately, God takes what we planted and/or watered and grows it into a person who accepts the message of salvation and choose to follow him and receive the free gift of salvation.

As you plant or water seeds in your life and feel like it is falling on deaf ears, just that God is right there with and will grow those seeds. We might never get to see the growth, but God is faithful in doing his part.

Devotion

Last Scene

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Once again C.S. Lewis has struck me with his writing in Mere Christianity. This statement was so powerful I only want to say one thing before you read it. Are you ready for the final act and if not, can I help you be ready? A choice needs to be made and we don’t know when the last act will finish so we need to be ready.

When the author walks on to the stage the play is over. God is going to invade, all right: but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else – something it never entered your head to conceive – comes crashing in; something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left? For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to chose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing; it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our change to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last for ever. We must take it or leave it.

Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis, page 66
Devotion

What do you run on?

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I have been reading through C.S. Lewis’ book Mere Christianity so my next few posts will probably be me processing some of the things he wrote. Have you read it? It is an amazing book but I can only read bits at a time so I can ponder what he has said.

I love analogies, especially when the topic is one that makes you think. The analogy tends to help me understand it or put it into practical words. Lewis shares this thought:

A car is made to run on gasoline and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run o Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other.

Mere Christianity

What a great way to remind myself that I need to fuel myself with Him. When I am too busy to read my Bible, pray, or even just sit quietly and listen to his voice, I notice that I get run down. I’m not motivated as much to do good, to seek his help as I come into a trial, or to share the gospel with those I meet. I can easily “fill my tank” with things of the world through social media, television shows or even just talking to friends.

But when I keep my tank full with Christ through studying and meditating on His Word, my days go better. Trials can be managed knowing I’m full of this strength. I fill ready to share his love and message with those I meet as I feel the power of the Holy Spirit in me. I can be confident that He is with me and hears my gratitude, call for help, or request for forgiveness.

Next time you fill your gas tank remind yourself to fill your personal tank with God’s word. Keep your tank full and be confident that you can take that next step knowing He is right there with you.