“My Life Message”

“Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you; but do it with gentleness and respect. -1 Peter 3:15b-16 (TEV)

“God made you to be a member of His family; a model of His character; a magnifier of His glory; a minister of His grace; and a messenger of His good news to others.” -Rick Warren in The Purpose-Driven Life, p. 295.

“God wants to say something to the world through me.” -Warren, ibid. p. 296.

M My life message, uniquely mine,

Y Yielded to God, a gift divine.

L Life’s lessons learned, I gladly share

I Insights and wisdom gained through prayer.

F Finite, this message is to be shared on earth,

E Encouraging others to seek the new birth.

M Message, meant to be shared, to be told,

E Essential for a Christian who must be bold,

S Stating how God has worked in a life,

S Showing how God leads through triumph and strife.

A Always telling the good news again,

G Goal: To get others a new life to begin;

E Expressing gladness as the message goes out;

Helping others to believe and not to doubt.

A Prayer for Sharing My Life Message:

Lord, Make me available to people and their needs.

Rekindle my passion for souls so that I can witness to Jesus’s saving power.

As David of old, I pray: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy Spirit.

Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.”

Yes, Lord, “Renew a right spirit within me.” Amen. (-Psalm 51:10; 12-13)

-Georgianne ETHELENE Dyer Jones

Composed February 6, 2004; revised Septemberr 28, 2019

(After reading Chapter 37, “Sharing Your Life Message” in Rick Warren’s book, THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIF. Nashville: Zondervan, 2002.)

In Defense of What You Believe

“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.  Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.  For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” –1 Peter 3:13-17.

The Greek word for a body of beliefs, or doctrines, that one holds in his Christian theology is often termed apologeia or apologetics.  Dr. C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), English writer and theologian, is well known as a twentieth century apologist.  In college, I had the privilege of studying apologetics under Dr. Harold McManous.  Apology in the respect it is used to defend our beliefs does not mean asking forgiveness for, as our frequent use of apology indicates.  It means, rather, to stand in defense of, to plead or present one’s case, to settle within the heart what one believes and why he believes it, and to be able to speak it with positive gentleness.  Paul the Apostle defended himself before the Roman rulers, Felix (see Acts 24:10) and Festus (see Acts 25:8).  In today’s focal passage, Peter was encouraging Christians against the coming persecution which he knew they would endure.  Believers are to respond to suffering and persecution in a godly way, being assured that their faithful endurance will be rewarded by God.  And always, we are to “make a defense to anyone who asks … for a reason for the hope that is in you” (I Peter 3:15).  And the defense should be done in “gentleness and respect.”  In the light of current trends and of laws passed that eat away at the heart of Christian morals and beliefs, it is imperative that Christians stand firmly for the right, putting on the whole armor of God as denoted in Ephesians 6:10-20).  And, having done all of that, “Stand”…!(v. 14).