“As you may remember,” Stan mentioned one morning during breakfast, “we’ve talked some about the importance of having a personal testimony.”
“I do remember that,” I replied. “Having a personal testimony is a great way to share with another person the truth of the gospel, what it means for me, and what it can mean for that other person’s relationship with God. Right?”
“That’s it,” Stan agreed. “And this morning I want to mention another aspect of a personal testimony I was reminded about earlier this morning in my journaling time.”
“What’s that?”
Rather than answer my question directly, Stan asked, “Do you think you can force anyone to become a Christian?”
“Force someone to become a Christian? Of course not. That’s a choice each person has to make.”
Stan then asked, “Do you think you can compel someone to be a Christian?”
“Compel someone to become a Christian? Isn’t that the same as ‘force’?”
“It’s not,” Stan replied. “And that’s the point about having a personal testimony I want to mention to you this morning.”
“What point?”
“While we can’t force anyone to become a Christian by what we tell them about our experience, we certainly can have a compelling personal testimony of the difference the truth of the gospel can make in a person’s eternal destination as well as life here before then! We’re to have a compelling message that can make a difference.”
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Bible verses to consider:
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, . . . . Matthew 28:19-20.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Mark 16:15.
And the master said to the slave, “Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” Luke 14:23.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the compelling message of the cross of Christ, through which you provide life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you for those people who presented to me that compelling message so I could accept the truth of the gospel. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity, I don’t have a message of the gospel that compels others to come to and accept the truth of your provision for them. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead in having and presenting a compelling message of the truth of your provision. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted God’s compelling message about His provision of life eternally with Him through the cross of Christ, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with having a compelling message about the truth of the gospel? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need in order to have a compelling message of the truth of the gospel? Spend time on this in prayer, reflection, and journaling about what He knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to being part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?
❤️🙏🏼So great!!