Daily Devotional for Friday April 4, 2014
Don't Be Intimidated into Not Serving the Lord
(Romans 1:25)
***ASK BILL: Pastor Bill, what caused Adam Lanza, the young man who killed those precious children and brave teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary, to do what he did? Mental illness, evil or both?
ANSWER: As the facts emerged, it became clear that mental illness, as in ALL of these shooting, was the predominant factor. Here is a Devotional I did on the issue of mental illness, and unless we as a nation put together a legitimate plan to start identifying those with some sort of mental illness, say a mandatory screening as a person enters the 10th grade, those who have these challenges will continue to suffer, and a small minority will commit serious acts that will take the life of, or greatly harm, innocent people. We know evil is from satan, and we know satan's agenda is to kill, steal, and destroy, meaning he will use anything, such as a mental illness, to advance his evil agenda. Link to Devotional on this topic: http://www.liveprayer.com/ddarchive3.cfm?id=4500
Don't be intimidated into NOT serving the Lord! My friend, I have been writing every day for 175+ months now telling you how bold satan is. I don't know if you have seen the latest "love gift" for donors of a Washington DC baby killing business. It is a silver coat hanger necklace! Recently Planned Parenthood was selling t-shirts that said, "I had an abortion." A while back, Ms. Magazine actually had an article, "We Had Abortions," accompanied by the names of thousands of women nationwide who signed a petition making that declaration. Even a few years ago, people would have never been bold enough to proclaim to the world that they killed their baby.
WE ARE LIVING IN A DAY WHEN SIN NO LONGER HAS ANY SHAME!!!
Those who call sin for what God calls it are mocked, laughed at, labeled as intolerant hate mongers, and dismissed as ignorant. The tide has now sufficiently turned that we are living in a time when it is CRIMINAL in some places to speak out against what God says in the Bible is sin. Since the church has abandoned the lost and hurting masses in the world, most people have no clue the incredible hurdles that exist today simply to take the truth of God's Word and Gospel into the secular marketplace.
A 5-yr-old kindergarten girl in Florida was told by a lunchroom supervisor she wasn't allowed to pray before her meal. People are told they will be fired for sharing their faith at work. We are asked in many social settings to NOT talk about our faith. Getting the most ungodly content that destroys lives out to the masses via the Internet, the secular media, and advertising is no problem. However, trying to take the truth of God's Word and the Gospel to those same masses using the very same secular vehicles is becoming more difficult with each passing year and no doubt will soon be CRIMINAL.
You see my friend, SIN CANNOT STAND IN THE LIGHT OF THE TRUTH! The truth of God's Word exposes sin for the lie that it is. That is why those who choose sin do their best to silence those proclaiming the truth of God's Word. Today's anchor verse tells us that there will come a day when they "exchange the truth for a lie." It declares what we are seeing unfold before our very eyes today where the truth becomes a lie and a lie the truth!
Truth: Marriage is between a man and a woman Lie: Marriage is between two people regardless their gender.
Truth: Killing your baby is murder. Lie: It is a woman's right to do what she wants with her body, including having an abortion.
Truth: Homosexuality is a sin. Lie: People are born gay and there is nothing wrong with having sex with someone of the same gender.
Truth: Divorce is a sin. Lie: Nobody really expects you to honor your marriage vows.
So what can you do? First, pray! Never underestimate the power of prayer. We need to pray for this nation to turn back to God and His Truth since it is the ONLY true answer. We need to pray for God to help us live our lives as true ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to pray for God to give us courage and boldness to proclaim the truth of His Word to those He brings into our life each day. Lastly, we need to pray for God to guide us and direct us where He wants us to be to serve Him. God has a plan and purpose for each one of our lives, and we must yield ourselves daily to Him so that He can work through our lives.
Second, share your faith and the truth of God's Word with others. As the Daily Devotional often encourages you, witnessing is not an option but something God has commanded us to do. God will open the right doors, give you the opportunities each day. Your loudest witness will not be the words you speak, but the way you live your life. PEOPLE NOTICE. The child of God is "on" 24/7. How you live each day before others will always be your most effective witness for Christ.
Lastly, find ways to serve the Lord. God has work for everyone to do. Actually, as Jesus pointed out, there is more work than workers! God has called all of His children to serve Him, each in a unique way. As you seek the Lord He will open doors in your life, guide you where He wants you, and use your life to further the Kingdom of God. EVERY CHILD OF GOD HAS BEEN CALLED INTO HIS SERVICE! Serving God is how we fulfill our purpose in this life. Don't be intimidated into NOT serving the Lord!
I love you and care about you so much. It is time for every child of God to do their part. We can't sit back and expect politicians to solve the problems of this nation when the real problems are NOT political but spiritual!!! We can't expect pastors and Christian leaders to do all the work. It is the responsibility of each and every child of God to do their part in serving the Kingdom. Somewhere the church became just another form of entertainment, losing its purpose which is to be a community of believers growing in their faith and being equipped and trained to go out into the world and serve our Lord.
I will be praying for you today to hear this clear challenge from God. Christianity was never intended to be a spectator sport! Take some time in the next 24 hours and get alone with God and start seriously seeking Him about what He wants you do to serve Him. It is time for every child of God to step up to the plate. It is time to do your part since the very soul of this nation is dependant upon God's people rising up to lead this once great land back to the Almighty and His Truth!
DON'T BE INTIMIDATED INTO NOT SERVING THE LORD!!!
In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller