Always Be Ready...

But sanctify the Lord God* in your hearts, and always [be] ready to [give] a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 2 Peter 3:15 NKJV

I was listening to a radio program the other day, and was struck anew, as to how one could always be ready to give a defense to anyone that asks for the reason for our hope in the Lord.

In this radio program, the speaker asked the person "Would you like to have love in your life?" Of course, the answer was yes. He then asked, "What about joy?" Again the answer was yes. "What about peace?" Again the answer was yes. "What about patience?" And wouldn't you know it, the answer was yes. "What about kindness, goodness and faithfulness?" Again the answer was yes. And finally, "What about gentleness and self control?" The answer was still yes.

My friends, what was just asked of this person are all the fruits of the Spirit. If we want these things in our lives, then God must be in it. As soon as we ask God into our lives, and then truly desire to listen to our Counselor, and our Provider, He will give us all these things. The only time we don't have them, is when we refuse to accept them from Him.

So the next time you're asked why you believe, and why you have hope in the Lord, Jesus Christ, you can say that you, at one time, desired all these things, and now that God is the center of your life, you have them, so long as you truly seek His will in your life. Now, that might seem too easy to some of you.

I ask those of you that think that's too easy, why should it be difficult? Jesus already paid the price for us. The acceptance is easy. Sometimes, the narrow path He has laid out for us isn't always easy to follow, but it's always there. You just might have to whack a few overgrown weeds out of the way, is all.

It's true, we will have difficulties, but that isn't what needs to come first, when we tell others why we hope in Him. So go on, tell others about your hope, and why you have it. It's easy, I tell you! It really is! Blessings to you all!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25 NKJV

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Rejecting the Lies by Shalene

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Yesterday, I talked about the blind leading the blind, and how very important it is to be in the Holy Word of God. Today I want to talk about the importance of not only reading the Word but applying it in your life.

I was once a staunch disbeliever, as some of you know. But before that I was a long time church attender as a child. I read my bible often enough to memorize scripture and gain my merit badges; and to know enough of the bible to use against those that would try to bring me back into the Fold, later in life. However, had I truly known the contents within, perhaps I never would have stumbled in the first place. That's not to say that I regret those lost years. They have made me who I am today, and have given me the means to see the Christian lifestyle through eyes that not all Christians have.

However, that is one of the dangers of not knowing the Word for yourself. You can be led astray very easily by those that would use the Word of God in their lies. Satan himself knows the scriptures, and can twist them to suit his plans. He can make them sound like just enough of the Truth that it is believable.

I am not here today to say that everyone who misinterprets the Word is knowingly in league with Satan himself, but unfortunately, when we do not know the Word for ourselves and apply it accordingly, we are in league with him that would deceive us. We are helping him in his plan, rather than furthering God's kingdom and God's plan. We must be ever vigilant in making sure that we don't unwittingly aid the enemy. And for those that do it knowingly, I say pray for their eternal souls, that God might show them the error of their ways. And pray for those souls that they are leading, that they might see the errors in that which they are being taught.

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 2:5

Obeying the Word of God is not easy to do. And in fact, everyone of us fall short of doing so. We all sin everyday. And are tempted everyday to sin more. Do you know the reason that this is so? It is Satan's defense against our ability to be effective witnesses. The more we are led astray, the more we dim the Light that shines through us with the deceiver's darkness. The only defense against this is prayer and time with God, in His Holy Word.

I'm not going to try to tell you what applying the Word of God in your life, looks like for you. I don't know you, and that's not my place. However, you know where your sinfulness lays, and what you need to change. At least, you will if you read your bible daily, pray continuously, and love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul.

--Lord, I pray today that my witness would be effective to all that I come in contact with. I pray that You would use me to further Your Kingdom, and that all Glory is to You and You alone. I pray for those souls struggling with applying Your Holy Word in their lives that they might see that You have a Divine Plan for their lives and it is for their good, not their harm. I pray that You would also continue to work in my life, that my sinfulness would be conquered. I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen