Believing in the Bible

A couple weeks ago I started a new daily Bible plan, where I read a couple chapters from the Old Testament and New Testament, much like Wesley would do. I do not know how to explain it but it feels more “well-rounded” reading the Bible this way. The Lord has really been showing me things I have not caught before when I have read the same chapters before. 

Today, I was reading Matthew Chapter 10 where Jesus was commissioning the 12 disciples to go out on their mission to drive out evil spirits and heal every disease and sickness. As I continued to read the chapter, something that stuck out to me, that had not before, was the second part of verse 8, “...Freely you received, freely give.” God said to me in this moment “Jesus freely gave us our gifts. We must freely use those gifts for his glory.” At times we waste the gifts God has given us by either not using it at all or using the gifts in ways that do not glorify him. Do not neglect your God given gifts, use them in a way that gives him the Glory!

As I continued to read, another verse really stuck out to me. Verse 13, “and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.” The Father kindly said to me, “do not let things that are unworthy take your peace.” I do not know about you, but I needed to hear this. More often then I would like to admit, I allow my worry to take my peace. But Worry is not worthy to take my peace, so I will continue to commit my worry to God today and everyday. I chose today to stop allowing it to take my peace, it is unworthy to do so. I challenge you to do the same if you also struggle with this!

(  I drew this when thinking about what to write -Shelby Folkerts  )

Be Patient With Those Who Disagree with You

 Be Patient With Those Who Disagree with You

Be patient with those who disagree with you. This can be difficult when we get defensive because our strong belief in something is challenged or criticized. This can be difficult when we know that we are “right.” Being patient with someone even when they are not listening or understanding us is difficult. So how did Jesus do it and why should we?

Jesus was mocked, criticized, called names- yet he is perfect. We will always have people who mock, criticize us, and call us names but to be more Christ-like all lies in how we respond. The easy emotion is frustration and anger, not understanding. Jesus was honest but his honesty was gentle and understanding. Even in anger he remained just. We can feel frustration, anger, sadness, etc. but we must handle our communication in a way that is pleasing to the Father. Slow to speak.

In the past few years I feel that the Lord has been teaching me this in a very difficult situation. I have a family member that I love dearly, but this family member is very lost. They would say they are a Christian, but their choices very clearly depict that this is not true. This family member has many different beliefs and thoughts around life. This family member has very different Biblical beliefs. Initially, I wanted to be impatient and “prove” this person wrong. I wanted to tell them all the ways that they “were indeed not acting like a Christ follower.” But the Lord stopped me. 

The Lord asked me, “would this bring (the family member) closer to me (God), or push them away from me (God)?” It was one of those “oof” moments. Loving while standing firm on Biblical truth is being Christ-like. 

When you are struggling with someone ask yourself, “Lord would my words bring this person closer to you? If the answer is no, then you have your answer, do not say it.