Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #139

Living Among Negativity

Isaiah 3

I pray blessings on you as you read.

(v. 8) "Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because what they say and what they do is against the LORD. They are defiant in his honored presence." (v. 10-11) "Tell the righteous that blessings will come to them. They will taste the fruit of their labor. How horrible it will be for the wicked! Disaster will strike them. What they have done will be done to them."

My Thoughts

Do you ever find it hard just to live around other people? There are bullies, harassers, liars, cheaters, people who say bad or hurtful words often. People seem to always be against each other or fighting a lot. It's hard to go one day without being around something negative.

As followers of Christ, we face opposition. Now, I'm not saying we have it harder than others or even than most. We do face opposition to our faith in Christ. Some more so than others, unfortunately, like those who are being attacked and killed by other extremist groups. Kids who go to church and believe in God are sometimes bullied at school because of it.

Don't let these truths and events scare you or worse, cause you to forsake God. Remember that we have nothing to fear if we have God on our side. If you believe that, then it is absolutely true. Stand firm in your faith. Even though others' words and deeds are against God, we do not have to follow them or be afraid of them.

God may use us to get through to those who don't believe, even if we don't ever speak to them or preach. How we live our lives for others to see can be more than enough for God to use. Live a life of Christ in yourself, and people will notice it.

As verse 10 says, if we stay true to God, our efforts in doing so and in what we do for God will not be in vain. We will reap the rewards of holding on to Christ. That reward is eternal life with Him. Do not let anyone discourage you from following Christ because, as verse 11 says, those who are against God will receive in return what they have done and they will be destroyed. This life is nothing compared to the next. 

Prayer Time

Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.

Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!

Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #80

3 Kinds of People

John 12

I pray blessings on you as you read.

(v. 42-44) "Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from more than praise from God. Then Jesus cried out, 'When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me."

My Thoughts

When it comes to faith in God the Father and the Son, there are generally three kinds of people. Jesus identified these three kinds of people in this chapter of John, which are as follows:

1. Unbeliever - The unbeliever does not believe in Jesus or in God, even though Jesus performed miracles in their presence. These people are just dead set against belief in Jesus, despite logic or reason or proof to do otherwise.
2. Secret Believer - The secret believer does believe in Jesus, but they are not open about it. Either they are afraid of others, they have some doubts, are embarrassed or something else that keeps them from telling anyone.
3. Open Believer - The open believer is the one who believes in Jesus wholeheartedly and is not afraid or embarrassed to tell anyone else about their faith in Jesus. They are often eager to tell others, in fact.

Which group do you belong to?

If you're searching for more reason to believe, you would belong to the first group. That's okay. If you're searching, it just means that you need more convincing. If you click at the tab at the top of this page where it says 'Daily Bible Reading' then click on of the links there, you will be taken to a list of the other posts I have done. Find whichever title most applies to your situation and read. if you have any questions, you can contact me via my email in the 'About' page.

If you're sitting there thinking, "But I don't just tell everyone I meet that I follow Jesus..." that's okay! You know what? I don't either. That isn't required. What matters is whether you are afraid to tell someone that you follow Jesus. You don't have to tell anyone immediately, but don't not tell them if you feel God leading you to.

You know, if you think about it, unbelievers and open believers are actually both being honest. If you don't believe, then you don't, and people generally are not afraid to say that. If you do believe, and you don't hide it or lie about it or anything, you are again being honest. However, if you do hide it, then ask yourself why.

If you avoid telling anyone that you follow Jesus, then what is the reason? Are you afraid of hatred or persecution? Don't be, God is with you and you know this. You know that God is stronger and that there is no reason to fear anyone but Him.

Are you embarrassed? What possible reason would you have to be embarrassed? Have people made fun of you? Why should that stop you? They're the ones laughing at something that is true that has actual scientific and historic proof behind it.

Are you doubting? What is it that you are doubting? If you have doubts, then what is keeping you even slightly attached? That's even more dishonest because you can't believe in something that you don't truly agree with or believe in because you choose to.

The biggest thing here is that you should never hide your faith. Hiding your faith is dishonest because God does not want us to hide our faith in Him. He wants us to share our faith with others. That's actually a contradiction right there, is it not? There is no good reason to hide your faith. Now, like I said, you don't have to tell every single person that you ever speak to, but just don't be afraid. If someone were to ask you if you follow Jesus, would you readily say yes, or deny Him? I will leave with that.

Prayer Time

Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.

Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!

Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #71

Testimony

Acts 26

I pray blessings on you as you read.

(v. 28-29) "Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?' Paul replied, 'Short time or long--I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.' "

My Thoughts

Paul gave his testimony of how he came to know Christ. This was not the first time he had done so. King Agrippa's response to Paul was interesting. He knew that this was Paul's testimony and that Paul hoped he, and the others listening, would come to know Christ. Your testimony is important as well, even if it is not in any way similar to Paul's testimony.

People often have an easier time believing that something is true when there is testimony from others to go along with it. This is especially true when the claims are hard enough to believe as it is. It can be hard to believe some of the things that God has done because these things usually are not common place. So for people to hear them is great, but if they don't have testimony that someone else, living, has witnessed the same things, they may find it hard to believe.

The testimony that you give of the things that God has done for you and how He has changed your life make it all the more believable to those who hear who don't already believe. Give your testimony faithfully and honestly and don't be discouraged if someone gives you the same response Festus gave to Paul, "You are out of your mind!" You tell them what Paul said, "What I am saying is true and reasonable."

You never know, maybe your testimony is the first anyone has heard of Christ before, in which case, once they hear more, they will be more inclined to at least learn more. If yours is yet another time someone has heard about Christ, maybe yours will be enough for them to make the choice to follow God.

When you give testimony, be sure that it is honest and true. If people don't see that there has actually been any change, or they find out that a part of it was false, then that will most likely ruin all hope for them to commit there lives to Christ. If there is no change in your life from before you became a Christian to after, no one will believe that Christ has actually changed your life.

Be honest and faithful when you give your testimony of how Christ has changed your life. Stand firm when people don't believe you or when people argue with you. You may just be the one to bring someone to a relationship with Christ, whether you know about it or not.

Prayer Time

Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.

Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!