These are the verses that we will discuss in this devotional story:
Romans 1:8-9
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
Here are my takeaways from these verses:
1. We can have faith that impacts the world.
If we think about the mission that God gave us— the great commission— we should be impacting the world, starting with our spheres or our social circle.
Matthew 5:13-16
English Standard Version (ESV)
13 "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
God called us to share God's love with others and live a life that will glorify God.
When we share Jesus' love for humanity, we will help change lives. We may not see the results of our deeds directly, but our actions have a ripple effect.
My grandmother accepted Jesus, and my family became Christians. I became a full-time church worker, and God used me to lead thousands of people to Jesus.
I can say that if my grandmother did not decide to receive Jesus, I might have missed the opportunity to serve Christ.
All I'm trying to say is that our efforts, no matter how small it may seem, creates a domino effect that can impact the world.
Another example was my small group sessions in one of the universities in my hometown a decade ago. It was a weekly bible study group that was attended by 3-4 people. One of the attendees became a pastor. He now leads a church of over a thousand people.
The simple things we do for Jesus can impact the world.
I'd like to add that there are rewards for following God, for sure, but we should follow Jesus because we love Him more than the benefits we get.
2. World impacting faith will result in people glorifying God.
1 Peter 2:12
English Standard Version (ESV)
12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
The best testimony is a lifestyle of faith.
We live in the social media warrior days where it is so easy to get into arguments online about our faith.
We will not win people to Jesus by arguing with them. Best that we can do is live by example.
If we find ourselves in an argument online, present Bible verses that support our point without being condescending. If they still don't accept our position, we should let it go.
We cannot change people. Only the Holy Spirit can change people. Arguing with people online will definitely not help them love Christ. We should just continue living our lives imitating Jesus.
3. We have to pray for one another at all times
1 Timothy 2:1
English Standard Version (ESV)
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.
We are called to strengthen one another, and praying for others is one of the best things we can do for people.
Prayer works. Miracles happen every day, and if we take the time to pause and focus on God, we will feel His presence in our circumstances.
We should not pray and force God to change things because He is not our slave. He is not a genie who grants wishes. He is an all-powerful God who created us with a purpose.
When we pray, we should ask Him to reveal His purpose for us. We should pray for a heart that is willing to obey His will in our lives. We should pray for others to have the heart that chooses to glorify God regardless of our circumstances.
Sometimes we want God to change our situation because we don't fully understand His plans for us. We pray for change and when it doesn't happen, and we think that God is not real or does not care.
We can't fully understand God. He probably wants us to go through difficult circumstances if He doesn't change it. Trust that God can turn any event around for our benefit.
We are in a time of crisis. We should pray for one another more often. We should pray for God's glory to shine during this pandemic.
Let's Sum it Up
God saved us to fulfil His plan for us. He gave us specific goals and a shared mission of spreading God's love.
When we obey God's will in our lives, we will have a positive impact on the world, which will cause others to praise God.
Regardless of the situation, we should be praying for one another. Let's pray for a heart that seeks God's will and glorifies Jesus.
Prayer of Salvation
Friend, if you want to have faith that impacts the world, but you are unsure of your standing in faith, say this prayer.
God sees your heart, so say the words with conviction and faith.
"Father, I am a sinner. Forgive my sins. I believe that Jesus died on the cross so I could live fully on earth and in heaven. Change my heart and mind according to your will. This I pray, in the mighty Name of Jesus, amen."
Friend, if you prayed this prayer in faith, I believe you have set things right with God.
If you want to grow in faith, find a Bible-based church. You can also reach out to me through my social media platforms and this website, www.high3r.com. I would love to hear from you.
Thank you for reading this devotional story, and I pray that it encouraged and empowered you in your walk with Christ. Please read other devotional stories on the website.
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