July 5, 2021 … “WHAT” … Not How …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 186 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Joni Earickson Tada singing  … Alone Yet Not Alone … poignantly singing about how we, as Christians, can have confidence in facing all in this world because we’re never alone in Christ 

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Highlight Passage:   2Corinthians 2:4  [NLT] …  

4 I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.  

… Paul, showing his love for his fellow Christians by sharing his love for Christ with them.    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … 2Corinthians 2:1-5 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul helping fellow Christians to focus on Christ in sharing their faith, ,,, and not on HOW we share Him 

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… When put ALL our trust in Christ … with ALL our hearts, … He will show us the HOW to lead others to Him. 

Reference Passage: … Romans 1:16 [NLT] … 

16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 

… Paul recognized the importance of Christ when sharing the Gospel with others.   

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 3:15  [NLT] … 

15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.  

… We ALWAYS must be ready to share God’s Gospel grace with others.   

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Kirsten Holmberg, AT THIS LINK  … tells of overcoming the very common fear of speaking in public [see photo] by focusing on the WHAT of the message rather than on the HOW.   

And that would apply, as the Apostle Paul brought out to his fellow Christians in the highlight passage as he shared the Gospel message with them … to focus on the “WHAT” of the message, being CHRIST and His saving grace, rather than having any fear of HOW the message is shared.  

So, today, if God gives us an opportunity to share His gospel grace with others, I pray we realize that it’s WHAT we’re sharing (as in the Scriptures above) that’s important and not HOW we share with others. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being my WHAT to share you today and giving me Your empowering grace to share You with others.        

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to recognize the WHAT behind our sharing the Gospel with others and that is Christ’s love and grace.    … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribee to the blog via email at that site.