Mindful Bible Study.org

Tag: Christians

  • Don’t Fear Persecution, It’s not Personal – Day 137

    Don’t Fear Persecution, It’s not Personal – Day 137

    By Pastor Andrew Farland

    Persecution is hostility meant for Jesus coming to me.

    Persecution is not personal. When you follow Christ, you’ll meet people who do not like Him, and they’ll take their anger out on you.

    They are going to keep all of their bitterness, anger, and objections, and they will hurl them at you. You’ve already happened to others, I’m sure.

    During a presidential election, I displayed a bumper sticker on my car. It was for a candidate I hoped would win. When I drove this car, people would flick me off, say mean things about me, and some even tried to run me off the road. I realized it wasn’t me they didn’t like. They didn’t even know me. They didn’t like my choice of candidate. They didn’t like the sticker on my car.

    In the same way, people today are persecuting Christians because we are representing Jesus. Remember that persecution is hostility meant for Jesus coming to us.

    There was a lady named Anne who was on a political talk show, and she announced who she thought the next president would be. The entire panel was on the opposite side of the political aisle. Anne boldly professed her belief (which came to pass), and those who disagreed with her mocked her and made fun of her on the air – on national TV, no less.

    That’s what it’s like for us when we follow Christ.

    We go into a place and boldly come face to face with the culture. If you say “Hey, I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe in Jesus,” people will make you the laughing stock of the world. That’s something we have to expect as Christians when we are thrust into the midst of different beliefs.

    It’s like the fresh water and saltwater when it meets in the Fraser River near Vancouver, British Columbia. The freshwater bursts over the top of the saltwater, almost in a showdown. It’s like a war, two opposing sides, both with strong beliefs and with blazing guns.

    When people are persecuting you, and you’re trying to share your faith in an attempt to witness for God and share His love, focus on Jesus being right there with you. You may feel alone. You may be tempted to second-guess your faith, but don’t do it. When you speak the truth of God’s word, you are empowered by the Author’s words. That author is still very much alive today.

    The Bible is God’s living word.

    Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so we would have the same kind of guidance He had while He was on Earth.

    Remember that the spirit of Jesus Christ himself is with you. During the persecution, you may feel like backing down because you’re ashamed of your faith, but don’t do it. Stand boldly and profess your faith. Tell people how it is. They might not want to hear it, but the world is going crazy, and immorality is running rampant. Yet no one will stand up to them.

    Scientists think they have all the answers. They say Christianity is stupid, without a foundation or base.

    Think instead about the power of who God is. You have the strongest message behind you, and yet Christians are so weak. They won’t confront anything in the world. Instead, they retreat and hide. They won’t go up to the line. They won’t challenge the beliefs of the world.

    Meanwhile, literally, everything in the world is going to hell. Christians are backing down, but don’t back down when people are hostile to you.

    The truth is that the darkness in them is afraid of the light in you.

    Focus on Jesus being right there with you, holding your hand, strengthening you, and encouraging you to keep going in your faith.

    Stay close to God’s word. The Bible and God’s word is the power source in your life.

    Deuteronomy 31:6,8
    “ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

    Be encouraged today because God is with you.

  • Coming up With a Vision Statement will Help You Make Decisions – Day 136

    Coming up With a Vision Statement will Help You Make Decisions – Day 136

    By Pastor Andrew Farland

    In life, it’s essential to identify the core values you’re going to live by. You at least need to come up with a slogan that defines who you are.

    Slogans have determined the plans and decisions of Presidents. The slogan becomes the filter by which they make decisions, and every President has had one.

    For example, John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” The current President coined the slogan, “Make America great again.”

    Medical doctors promise to uphold a critical tenet of the Hippocratic Oath: “First, do no harm.” These four words are supposed to guide their recommendations for inpatient care.

    What slogan guides you?

    If you don’t have one yet, create your own filter by deciding what you stand for.

    It was the first U. S. Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, who said, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” You must have a core belief that will guide you in your decision-making process.

    Once you identify your slogan, keep your mission and vision statement right in front of you. There will be times you must make decisions, and you won’t know what to do. Placing your priorities in the forefront will help you make good choices.

    The other day I had a potentially messy situation involving a lot of people.

    I didn’t want to offend anyone. I wanted to do the right thing. I turned to my priorities, my mission statement, and then the decisions were easy to make because I knew where I was headed. I knew what the outcome had to be.

    For you today, your slogan or mission statement might be, “Love God and love people,” or a question like, “Will this make me more Christ-like?”

    Listen to whatever God has put on your heart. Set your core values and mission by His word. Make sure that whatever you choose is Biblical.

    Always align yourself with God’s word. His word will always be relevant regardless of current cultural norms or Presidents in office.

    Then make your decisions based on your mission and vision so that you can keep God’s statutes and seek Him with all your heart.

    Proverbs 119: 2
    “Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.”

    Be encouraged today because God is with you.

  • DAY 135 – BEING ON THE WAY THE LORD LED ME

    DAY 135 – BEING ON THE WAY THE LORD LED ME

    By Pastor Andrew Farland

    Back in 2001, I was sitting by a pond.

    While I was sitting there, I noticed part of it was frozen over. Then I saw a bunch of ducks playing in this little part of the ice that was broken up. It was freezing, but the ducks were playing in the water like kids in a pool – flapping, splashing, and playing. To the side was a bunch of ducks lined up waiting for their turn to get in the water, even though there was plenty of room for all of the ducks to join the fun.

    That’s when I felt God speak to me.

    He said, “Andrew, I’m giving you permission to step out, to always give permission to my people to step out.”

    I thought back to the pond and the ducks. It was such an interesting metaphor. The water was there, and all the ducks could have played at once. There was plenty of room for everyone, but they were sidelined. They waited for the others to jump in.

    That’s when I remembered this verse from Genesis 24:27:

    “Being on the way, the Lord led me.”

    So often we never get on our way. We wait for a sign. We hope the clouds will part. It’s like waiting with our phone for a text message from God. DING! Move your right foot, says the text. Fifteen minutes later, there’s another DING! Now move your left foot.

    Sometimes we think God has to show us every single step of the way. That He has to direct every footstep. There’s no relationship, no growth, no character development in that.

    God didn’t create robots. Instead, He gave us free will.

    He allows us – and even encourages us — to step out. Jump in. Make the first move.

    You may remember when Abraham’s servant was looking for a wife for Isaac. His many requirements for a life partner held him back from getting what he was seeking. They obstructed him from achieving his goals.

    In our own journeys, we too become spiritually constipated by sitting there, not practicing our faith and not moving forward. We are like a parked car, and it’s hard to steer a parked car in any direction.

    Take your first steps today. Start moving toward something.

    Don’t worry about the direction.

    Let God course-correct you. Just as a GPS reroutes you if you take a wrong turn, so will God. Let God reroute you. A GPS isn’t much good if your car is permanently in park, and God won’t guide your path if you refuse to step forward. You have to take that first step.

    Today, take that action step. Step out. Do something different, something unfamiliar, something a bit scary.

    The important thing is that you get going.

    Remember that being on the way, the Lord led me.

    Get your feet moving and then expect God to show you the direction He wants you to go. Once you start, He’ll lead your way.

    Proverbs 16: 9
    32 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

    Be encouraged today because God is with you.

  • DAY 134 – ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

    DAY 134 – ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

    By Pastor Andrew Farland

    Every really great question needs an equally great answer. The challenge lies in figuring out how to ask the right questions, whether you need information or are studying God’s word.

    My pastor once told us that the key to good Bible study and getting something out of God’s word is asking the right questions.

    You’ll have the best Bible study if you ask the right questions.

    The same thing is true with God’s voice. When you are studying God’s word, you must ask the right questions. In fact, if you want to hear God’s answer, you must ask specific questions.

    Lately, I’ve been going back to a technique that’s worked well for me before. I ask God intentionally specific questions so that I get equally specific answers. I know He will answer my questions because He tells us to knock on His door, seek Him out, and ask for what we need.

    God wants you to find Him.

    The problem is that we don’t ask specific enough questions. We ask vague questions, expecting nothing more than a vague response, or maybe no response at all. We’re afraid of the silence. We’re afraid that God won’t answer us. But if you ask a specific question, you will get a specific answer.

    Just today I was just processing something I have to do tomorrow. I took ten minutes to pray, silencing my heart and waiting for God’s response. It wasn’t long before I got a specific answer. God’s answer comes as an aha moment, and it’s always clear. He has a specific answer for my specific question.

    I encourage you to ask specific questions rather than general ones because the latter will get you a general answer.

    Sometimes we’re afraid to step out in faith and ask for that special answer.

    Do it anyway, and you’ll sense God’s grace. You’ll see him answer your questions because you asked the right kind of questions – specific ones. You’ll get certainty in your heart and have a sense that God is there.

    God does want to answer your questions. His answers will help you become confident in your prayer life. Special answers challenge your faith and encourage you to step out more boldly in your faith as well.

    Matthew7: 7-8
    7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

    Be encouraged today because God is with you.