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"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg talk about "Taking Everyday Risks to Talk with People About Jesus" in their book The Unexpected Adventure. Each of the stories in this book talks about being ordinary individuals willing to relay our extraordinary message because we are backed by an extraordinary God. Each of us needs to be prepared to relate our "faith story" because you never know when someone might approach you with the question, "I'd like to become a Christian, but I still have a few questions that are hanging me up." First Peter 3:15 says, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."
Are you up for the challenge? Even though we are ordinary people, we are backed by an extraordinary message and an extraordinary God. We might not feel adequate for the challenge, but we need to take action knowing that God will give us the power as the power is needed. Isn't this what happened in the garden of Gethsemane? This is one of the few times that Jesus' emotions are revealed. We see the struggle He is going through along with his emotional anguish yet He walks out the garden and down the road to Calvary. God gave his Son exactly what He needed to make that journey. Jesus' courage and obedience to God is a perfect model for us. Obeying God is a demonstration of faith, but we need to be willing to take actioin on that belief. If you do this, God will be aligned with you and help you to make an impact on the lives of others.
So when you are asked that question, "Who is this God that you worship," be ready with your "faith story".
Susan Pleasants
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