I am happy to share a devotional article that was published in the Bible Advocate’s Sept-October issue and translated into Spanish. Empowered Witnesses focuses on how God prepares us to do the work to which He has called us.
Excerpt:
Like the believers of old let us step forward boldly recognizing that
Empowered Witnesses by JP Robinson
that we have God And that means we can change the world
Read more on page 12.
He will judge between the nations
Isaiah 2:4 (NIV)
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
This morning while reading my Bible, I was struck (for probably the millionth time) by the hope that God’s Word contains. In the case of world peace I’m sure we’ll agree that humanity has failed—miserably.
But what we seek to attain by human measures God promises will happen, not by our political scheming or military prowess, but by His own power.
Jesus will bring world peace at His return and those who are secure in Him will never suffer again.
Now that’s something to smile about!
JP Robinson
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
I can’t get over the power of these words, no matter how many times I read them. The depth of God’s love, the power of His mercy are simply incalculable.
But what means the most to me is that God wants us to recognize that we simply can’t understand how great His love is.
Measuring how high heaven is from earth? It just goes on and on.
How far east is from west? You’ll start over in the east without realizing you’re there again.
And He commands us to show that same depth of mercy and forgiveness to those who’ve wronged us.
God thinks big… doesn’t He?
JP Robinson
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”
Psalm 16:8
The simple truth is that God is reliable. He’s proven faithful time and again to those who trust in Him.
Have a happy week!
While drafting an article for a Christian magazine, I was struck by the rugged nature of the early church. Against all odds, the believers challenged social norms, upended the religious traditions, stymied a pagan empire that spanned the known world, and crushed political opposition.
Who were these warriors?
Ordinary men and women, most of whom couldn’t even write their own name (Acts 4:13). But they possessed the power of the Holy Spirit and, through it, they turned the world upside down.
21st century Christians should look in awe at those early believers. They crossed cultures, conquered resistance with zeal, love and a rugged faith in a miracle-working God. Today, we must also face a world ruled by fear, superstition and, political correctness. Boycotts have become the game of the day as the Bible predicts would happen (Revelations 13:16).
But there are individuals who embody Christ’s answer.
Let us be the warriors that Christ ordained, proclaiming His Word with boldness and faith. Let us challenge the darkness, recognizing we are not weak but strong in Him.
We insist He is alive and prove it by letting Him work His supernatural wonders through us.
Let us be His witnesses, empowered by His Spirit to carry on His life. Fear must be met with faith, darkness with the conquering power of light.
Only then, will the world see God.
