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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Saturday, January 31, 2004 Will You Speak the Message of Encouragement? |
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Frontline Devotion for
Saturday, January 31, 2004, by Pastor Dave Sonnenberg
Bible text:
Acts 12:24-13:15
Most of us keep very busy. Our daily journeys take us running from here to
there. Our palm pilots and calendars fill up. We are people usually on the
move. We talk a lot about the need to slow down, but people need reason to
slow down in the first place.
I am drawn in to the final verse in the text today - where a group simply says to
Paul, “brothers, if you have a message of encouragement, please speak.” I think
that is a verse that Christians today need to keep at the forefront of their
thinking. There is so much lamenting being offered about the state of the
world. Many Christians, whether they mean to or not, spend a lot of time
commenting on all the evils of the world. They offer the world the doom and
gloom, yet not always the grace of God. The grace of God is offered as a mere
footnote. If we truly want to help enrich the world around us, we need to give
people radical reason to stop, look, and listen.
I believe the world around us is saying the same thing today as the people were
saying to Paul - “Christian, give us a message of encouragement.” Will we dare
to tell people- “the God of the universe is madly in love with you?” Will we
dare tell people - “Come as you are right now. Don’t wait until you think your
life is sanitized and in good order.”?
I find that one of the things that encourages me the most is when someone admits
that they are flawed, yet in all they say and do, they exhibit that they are
truly trying to grow as a follower of Jesus. To me, that is good stuff. I want
to be around people who hunger to grow, not hunger to be perfect. Only God is
perfect.
Your life is a daily opportunity to offer spiritual encouragement. When the
world around you asks for it (which they are doing 24x7x365), do your best to
rise to the occasion and give them a message of grace. Do your best to stop
lamenting and start serving up large doses of encouragement. Lift up those
around you. Don’t be afraid to fail. In all - remember that you serve the God
of the universe, who embraces you and loves you and wants you in a close
relationship.
Lord God, the world around us is hungering for words of encouragement. Lead us
by your Spirit so we offer the world what you desire. Teach us to value our
every action and every word. Mold us in your thoughts. Mold us in your ways so
that we offer this world and encouraging voice. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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