Read: First Timothy 2:15 and First Peter 3:15
This past week I had the pleasure of attending two sessions of a conference at a nearby church. My schedule had been very heavy this year, leaving little room for such luxuries. But things have settled down quite a bit and I was able to slip away. At one point during the service, first time visitors were acknowledged and asked to stand. We were applauded, greeted by the pastoral staff and then to my surprise, led out of the sanctuary to a room down the hall. Once there, we were greeted again and given gift bags containing quite a few very nice items. Also in the bag was a church brochure.
It wasn’t until this morning that I had an opportunity to thumb through the brochure to get more deeply acquainted with those who had so graciously handled my visit. There were the usual bits of information contained in it: a welcome, the church’s origin, senior pastor’s biography, a mission statement and ministries that the church had to offer. But there was one page that was set apart from the rest. It had no pictures, advertisements or fancy headers as did the others. The page was completely filled with text. By differentiating the page in this way, it made me stop and take notice. It was entitled, Our Core Beliefs.
The entire page spelled out what the members of this particular congregation believed. It began with the inerrancy of the scriptures and concluded with God as our sole provider. Sandwiched in between were beliefs about the Trinity, humanity and our condition, salvation, redemption, Christ’s return, and a host of ordinances by which they follow. As I read through their proclamation it made me wonder. What do I believe? If someone were to stop me on the street and ask, would I be able to tell them? Would I stumble and stutter? Or are my beliefs so settled in my heart that they would flow from my mouth?
In First Peter 3:15 we are admonished to be ready at all times to give a defense for the hope that is in us. We are to know what we believe so much so that any time we are approached by anyone, we are able to declare why we do what we do. So how does one get there? Second Timothy 2:15 says we are to study to show ourselves approved. Our study is not limited to a concentrated class at church, or a conference, or even our personal devotional time at home. It extends beyond those times to become an integral part of our everyday living.
Listen to Deuteronomy 6:5-9 from the Message Bible, “Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got. Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.” Our beliefs come alive as we love the Lord and meditate on His words. They become deeply planted in our hearts as we make them what we think about, talk about, and teach.
Let’s purpose this moment to be able to put into words the reason for our hope. Eloquence is not the goal, but rather clarity and simplicity. This month each of us is challenged to answer a question: “Is what we believe ritual or reality?”
Prayer
Father, I thank You for the privilege of knowing You and I desire to make You known. Teach me to take what I believe and live out each day to the point of being able to communicate it to others with confidence. Let my sincerity cause them to stop and take notice of You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
