Hey guys, welcome back for my second post of the day! I know, I know, I’m overdoing it. XD But y’all are in for a real treat and I bet most of you will read this tomorrow anyway heh heh, plus it means I don’t have to come up with too many words today on my own. 😛 So! Let’s give a round of applause for Grace Johnson, who wrote a fantastic article to help showcase her newest release, With Fear and Trembling. 🙂
Thirty daily devotions to inspire you to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling!
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” – Philippians 2:12
As Paul commanded the church of Philippi to rely upon the Word of God rather than man’s teachings, to cultivate their own faith rather than sharing in another’s, Grace A. Johnson has written thirty simple but inspirational devotions that are geared to readers of all ages and stages in life. Meant to motivate readers to dig into the Word, prompt them to examine their relationship with God, and encourage them to walk in victory, the devotions include:
Applicable Scripture passages
Relatable true stories
Inspirational prayers
“My prayer is that God will use these devotions to prick your heart, fuel your convictions, and ignite a desire to grow more in your faith and start living according to God’s purpose for your life!” – Grace A. Johnson
Not Against… For by Grace Johnson
Mark 9:38-41: John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.”
I don’t know about y’all, but I see a lot of division and animosity within the Body of Christ. Protestants against Catholics, left-wing Christians against right-wing Christians, conservatives against liberals. More than that, hymn-lovers against modern worshipers, Baptists against Pentecostals, the “poverty” gospel against the “prosperity” gospel. Y’all, the list goes on.
People these days seem to think that anyone and everyone who isn’t exactly like them—doesn’t think like them, walk like them, look like them, believe like them—is inherently wrong. And maybe they are! Maybe you’ve got it all right and everyone else is downright wrong. But as nice as that would be, it’s not probable. In fact, the Bible deems it practically impossible, for “none is righteous, no, not one” (Psalm 14:1) and “no one is good except God alone” (Luke 6:31).
What bothers me the most is not that many of us quietly hold certain opinions of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ…no, it’s the fact that so many “Christians” are actively criticizing and mocking those they don’t agree with.
If they were so blatantly against the secular world and the devil’s devices, Christ’s Church would be a force to be reckoned with! But instead of speaking out against evil, we’re speaking out against ourselves. We’re pulling away from our fellow members over petty things.
And even if you disagree…even if you think you’re in the right..even if what some Christians do believe is wrong…
You know what Jesus said?
“For the one who is not against us is for us.”
You see, the disciples were so quick to point fingers at this man working in Jesus’ name, simply because he wasn’t following them or part of their group. However, Jesus knew that the man was pointing people towards Him and was doing good for Him, rather than defaming Him or doing evil, and He told His disciples not to stop him.
Because if someone is leading someone to Christ…if someone is extolling Biblical truths…if someone is supporting the Kingdom of God…if people come to Christ because of their actions…if they touch someone’s life…if they proclaim Jesus is Lord…if they do ANY good for God and His Kingdom whatsoever, DON’T STOP THEM.
Don’t criticize them.
Don’t mock them.
Don’t shun them.
Don’t get on social media and complain about how evil they are and how wrong they are.
It doesn’t matter, because they are working for the Lord!
And as crazy as it seems to many of us self-righteous folks out there…God uses ANYONE! God can use atheists, murderers, liberals, WHOMEVER to do His work!
Why?
Because when HIS PEOPLE refuse to do what He has called them to do…when they won’t set aside their differences…when they won’t take a leap of faith…when they won’t lay down their cross…when they won’t surrender…GOD WILL CHOOSE SOMEONE ELSE.
His will WILL be done, no matter what!
I don’t know about you, but I would rather it be a true servant of the Most High God doing His work than anyone else, don’t you?
So maybe if instead of whining and pointing fingers, we WOKE UP and LISTENED to GOD and ACCEPTED His call and said YES, LORD! YOUR SERVANT IS LISTENING! SEND ME!!! Maybe then things would change. Maybe even those people who say one thing and do another, those people we disagree with…maybe they too will start walking in faith and living according to His word.
Maybe then the Body will be ONE. Maybe we’ll have the UNITY Paul praised. Maybe WE’LL ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING! Maybe REVIVAL will break out! Maybe HEAVENLY HOSTS will be released! Maybe the HOLY SPIRIT WILL DESCEND. Maybe God’s GLORY will set the world on FIRE!!
Oh, God, let it be!!! Break down every stronghold of pride, arrogance, self-righteousness, prejudice, hate, anger, bitterness… break it all down! Send Your Holy Spirit to eradicate the chains of religion, the Jezebel spirit, the Pharisaical mentally holding Your Church captive. Break every chain, Father! Raise us up to live free and victorious, heeding Your call and spreading Your word! Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, from the tops of our heads to the soles of our feet, until we radiate Your glory and Your power! Don’t let us hinder Your works! Instead, use us as instruments of Your good news, publishers of Your salvation, bearers of Your light, workers of Your peace!
SEND YOUR FIRE, FATHER. RAIN DOWN YOUR GLORY RIGHT NOW, IN JESUS’ NAME!!! We need You, Lord! We’ve always needed You! Stir up a mighty flame, a fiery passion within us to do Your will, God! Wake us up to who You are and who You have called us to be—not what the world says.
WAKE US UP, LORD!
About the Author
Grace is a teenage authoress who has loved books since she was two years old. She has written and self-published two novels, a novella, and five short stories. She lives in beautiful (but humid) South Georgia, surrounded by farmland and forestry (and not as close to the beach as she’d like), with her parents and six younger siblings. Her dream is to be a wife and a mother, follow the Spirit to the mission field, and inspire other young writers to reach for the sky! You can learn more about her by checking out her blog, Of Blades and Thorns, subscribing to her newsletter, and following her on social media!
Wrap Up
There you have it, folks! Make sure to check out With Fear and Trembling, because it. is. stunning. I had the privilege of beta reading it and absolutely adored the content. Grace writes with a raw, face-to-face like style, one that is both thoughtful and intriguing. If you’re looking for a devotional for next month, this is your best bet! You can find it on Amazon for $9.99. 😀
Until next time,
Take courage, pursue God, and smile while you still have teeth!
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