Weekly Devotional 10-17-22 Don’t be Discouraged but Encouraged
Have you noticed that the Bible, the self-acclaimed Word of God, is being attacked increasingly in our day? Some say that it is a document of the past with little relevancy to today’s world. Some say that it is just one of several revelations of God about Himself and what He wants of man. Some hold that it is a book of mysticism (fantasies of the imagination). Some say that it is indeed God’s Word, but that it is open to different interpretation, while others hold that it is a closed book to the general populace of the church (the laity) needing to be explained by those of the clergy. It carries then that we, who stand firm holding that it is as relevant today as it was when written, that it is the only true Word of God, not a book of mysticism (fantasies), will also come under attack. Many of the people described by the above-mentioned positions often-times become quite indignant when a “born again Christian” stands firm by holding that the Bible is the only true word of God, that it is God’s clear message to mankind with the intent of revealing Himself to them and of exposing man’s fallen nature.
Why are these many so indignant? The answer is: Natural man (the unredeemed man) does not want to consider that the Bible is in fact God’s word and that it conveys His message to them. They do not want to entertain any thought of being responsible to God. They do not want to listen to the message of the Bible, that life will continue after the death of their body and that there will be a reckoning for their unbelief. They do not want to entertain such thoughts and would rather live thinking that this present experience of life is all there is. Therefore, when the Christian is ridiculed or shunned, he should not be discouraged but encouraged because those attacks give testimony to the truth that he himself has been brought from unbelieving to believing, which by the way, is the work of God. The apostle Paul testifies about this work in his letter to the Ephesians. In this letter he reminded them that he and they had been gifted with the awakening of their spirit to spiritual regeneration. Consider.
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:1-10)
Because of the truth revealed in Paul’s letter we can and should be encouraged and thankful, knowing that any ridicule that comes our way comes from unenlightened minds and separation from God. Rather than be discouraged we should be encouraged seeing this as an opportunity to witness, believing that the person that is ridiculing us may be the next one whom God Calls to Himself.
Steve