God is so good! I read a devotional yesterday that prompted me with these questions: had I ever been “hauled into court for being a” follower of Jesus Christ? had I ever been “threatened for saying that Jesus [Christ] rose from the dead?” had I ever been “beaten for telling others about Jesus” Christ?

I make it a point to draw attention to “Christ” and here’s one of the many reasons why: did you know there are more than one persons named Jesus who are mentioned in the Bible? If you didn’t, make a note of it and look into it sometime. His name matters. Do you think, had the apostles been talking about just a good ole friend of theirs named Jesus, they would’ve faced so many challenges? Of course not! But, because they were talking about the son of Man, the King of Kings, God in the flesh, it mattered. The same holds true for us today; and just because many of us haven’t suffered the way they did doesn’t mean we won’t.

This past year, many of my students felt like the world was ending every time they opened their journals to respond to a writing prompt. No prompt was ever quite pleasing and, for the most part, they were determined to prove to me that all of the prompts were just too hard. I imagine this is how we feel when it’s time to give a response as to why we worship a God we can’t see or why we praise a man who was hung on a cross and died. Well, God has already prepared us with the “how” and we can read it every day for encouragement. In the Second Book of Timothy, Chapter 4, Verse 2, it says, “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (biblegateway.com). In order to do what that verse says, we must first do what this one says: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (biblegateway.com), from Psalm 119, verse 11.

There will come a time when we will need to say more than, “that’s just what I believe.” That response won’t be enough to end a conversation and nor bring someone else into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. I’m not saying that it’s gonna’ be easy, but I am telling you it’s 100% doable. My heartfelt encouragement for us all today is that we not focus on what could happen to us because of what we do say, but what will God do about what we didn’t say. As you begin or continue your day, consider what will you say today. Begin and end your day with the Word of God so that your words won’t be fruitless and your silence won’t be deadly.

Be blessed.

READ: 1 Timothy 4

LISTEN: Best News Ever by Mercy Me https://youtu.be/acbcKrnnJAk