“Say to those with an anxious heart,
‘Be strong; fear not!’”
Isaiah 35:4a
This is where my bible plopped upon today. Certainly, this is a worthy message to the entire world, especially those who are born again. Anxiety comes from worry. We really don’t have anything to be worried about. Non-believers do, certainly, but we don’t. God has us covered in everything.
Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Yes, that message often gets lost to all the cares of this world. This weekend I was hunting deer with a bunch of my buddies, most of whom don’t know Jesus. I spent a lot of time on stuff of this world – football, car racing, hockey – and very little time in my bible. However, I did pour through Romans 5-11 on my deer stand yesterday afternoon.
I want to get back in my groove that I’ve been enjoying the last few weeks, the groove of being tight with Jesus, relishing his love for me. That will take some intentionality on my part. I need to get my nose back in my bible – today – as well as get some solid connection through genuine prayer. I need to hit my intermittent fast first thing. All that stuff. God is there, right there. I don’t need to drift aimlessly.
It’s interesting to compare the behavior of two groups, my Christian buddies to my secular buddies. Certainly, my secular buddies have tamed down considerably as they age, so that’s good. Still, there isn’t the type of interaction that is so fulfilling as with my Christian friends. We talk about the bible and how Jesus impacts our lives. We share our struggles and encourage one another with the gospel. I always come out of these encounters better prepared for life.
At the same time, I think it’s necessary to have good secular friends. I’m not suggesting I participate in debauchery, but I am suggesting that spending time with them builds trust. They know I’m different than I once was, but they also know that I’m not judging them. They trust me. Do I talk about Jesus? No, I can’t say that I do, but they all know I’m a believer. Should I? Good question.
Here’s where following the Spirit is necessary. I’ll pray for opportunities to share the gospel. He’ll let me know when a door is opening. I just need to be ready to walk through it. I’ll be patient. There’s a time and place for street preaching, and this isn’t it. Sooner or later, these guys will feel the futility of life and be open to discussion. And, who knows, maybe the Spirit will present an opportunity in the middle of a card game.
Meanwhile, I could do a better job of staying connected with Jesus over the weekend. I really don’t have to miss a beat and put my faith walk in hold while I’m with the guys. I can read my bible on the deer stand. I can pray. I just won’t have the same comradery as with my Christian friends. That’s OK. There is a time for them, too. No matter the circumstances, I have hope and am awake and waiting for my Lord to return.
Father, thank you for putting all sorts of people in my life. I’m here to do your bidding. Amen.
Copyright © 2019 Scott Powers