Stan and I were again together at the Twelve Baskets Cafe to have breakfast and talk about growing in our Christian faith. As we waited for Ricky to bring our breakfast orders, Stan mentioned that in his journaling earlier that morning he’d again focused on how God is real good at asking pointed questions.”What,” I asked, “pointed question did God have for you to focus on?”
“Does my life display a recognizable difference because I’m with Jesus?”
“That seems like a good question,” I responded, “but why’d you focus on that?”
“There’s an account in the Book of Acts,” Stan replied, “about the apostles Peter and John. They had been arrested and put in jail because of what they were saying about Jesus. It says that while they were speaking, those who had arrested them began to recognize that they had been with Jesus.”
“So?”
“It raised in my mind the question of whether anyone can say the same thing about me.”
“What same thing?”
“Do others recognize I’ve been with Jesus by what I say and do?”
“Oh,” I replied, “I can see why you called it a pointed question!”
“Indeed,” Stan said. “Is there a recognizable difference because I’ve been and I am with Jesus? Or do I look and sound just like the world?”
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Bible verses to consider:
Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. Acts of the Apostles 4:13.
Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip?” John 14:9.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity the way I speak and live is no different from those who don’t have life with you; there is no recognizable difference. Please forgive that foolishness and help me follow every step of your lead so I do, in fact, live a life that’s different because I am with Jesus in living that life. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in His precious name. Amen.
Think on this: Are you with Jesus in the sense you’ve accepted life with God through Jesus’ finished work on the cross? 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 living a life that is recognizably different from the world? 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 to live a life that is recognizably different because you have been and are with Jesus? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God 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 be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?