June 23, 2013 … God’s Calling = God’s Enablement

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 174

Passage of the Day #1: Matthew 10: 16, 20 [In the context of verses 16-20] [NLT] …  
16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Be as wary as snakes and harmless as doves. 17 But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and beaten in the synagogues. 18 And you must stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. This will be your opportunity to tell them about me—yes, to witness to the world. 19 When you are arrested, don’t worry about what to say in your defense, because you will be given the right words at the right time. 20 For it won’t be you doing the talking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. ..."
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Contextual Study for today’s passages above: Matthew, Chapter 10 [NLT] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Matthew 28: 19-20 [God’s Great Commission!!] [NLT] …  
19 “… Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Reference Passage #2: Acts 1: 8 [Called out as Christ’s witnesses – but called with His power.] [NLT] …  
"... 8 But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

Reference Passage #3: 1st Peter 3: 15-16a [Be prepared!!] [NLT] …  
15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16 But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. ...

My Journal for Today: It can be scary at times being a witness for Christ, can’t it? Yet, we’re most certainly called by Christ Himself and by God’s word to “GO” … and be His witnesses, wherever we are and to whomever He establishes divine appointments to do so in His Name.

And if you’ve read and meditated on all the passage I’ve copied or linked you to above, there is no doubt that Christ’s disciples, (and I assume that’s you and me) are called out to witness in His Name and for His glory. We read how Jesus called out His inner 12 in Matthew, Chapter 10, linked above. And then we read how Jesus, Himself, just before He ascended back to Heaven, called all disciples out to be His witnesses anywhere and everywhere they (we) would be sent. And then one of Jesus’ prime-time Apostles, Peter, who was in constant threat of death as a disciple of Christ, exhorted all Christians to be ready AT ALL TIMES to give an answer when we’re challenged as disciples (see 1st Peter 3: 15-16).

So, there’s no denying that we Christians are called out to be God’s emissaries in this world; but, as I said above, it can be a scary proposition to be a Christian these days in a world which is growing increasingly hostile to God. But let’s keep things in perspective. The hostility we encounter as Christians now is no where near the level of threat which those to whom Jesus or Peter addressed in the 1st Century. Many of those Christians were under threat of being stoned to death or thrown to the lions for their witness. And yet, we disciples of Christ today cower in fear when we discover that we’re given an opportunity to witness to our family or to a new neighbor whom we discover is not a believer.

But go back and read the red-letter passages above; and remember that, as my mentor used to remind me, “God’s calling is His enablement!” In other words, God will never put us into any situation, especially any divine appointment which He engineers, where we, with His faithful enablement, won’t be able to handle the situation. And I’d almost bet that some of you Bible memory warriors who’re reading this are remembering 1st Corinthians 10: 13, linked here for those who might not have it memorized.

So, my fellow witness for Christ, as we go out today, we need to be praying that God will send us somewhere or to someone where we can be witnesses for the good news of the Gospel and where we can give our testimony of what Christ has meant in our lives. And when the opportunity presents itself, we need to be ready to give an answer in respect and love for the glory of God.

Are you ready? … Let’s go!!!

My Prayer for Today … Lord, take me to someone who needs You as their Savior? … Amen