Today is the first day of spring. Soon the flowers will bloom all around us as we enjoy the warmth of the sunshine upon our faces. We have officially entered a new season. A new season brings new victories and new defeats. New doors will open and some doors will close. For with every new season, change is inevitable. Just as new buds are beginning to appear on trees, shrubbery, and flowering plants, our lives will continue to change every day.
New seasons can bring many changes. From new careers to new residences, each season brings about a myriad of possibilities. A new season could even bring a joyous new addition to the family. Even the temporary change of scenery one experiences on vacation can be an exciting adventure.
While these changes are most welcome, there are uninvited changes in life as well. The loss of a job, a burned out home, or the bereavement after losing a child can all be devastating. But even in these moments of despair, we have hope for the future. Jesus knew we would encounter trials in life. He said, “‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! But I have overcome the world’” (John 16:33 NIV). Even in the moments when you feel all hope is gone, there is eternal hope found in Jesus Christ.
No matter what season you find yourself in today, God has not forgotten you. He “will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5 NIV). If you find yourself in one of the most difficult seasons of your life, call on Him for help. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” God wants to hear from His children. He wants us to come to Him for help, just as a child goes to their parents for comfort when they fall and scrape their knee. You are never beyond the reach of Jesus Christ (see Romans 8:35-39 NIV).
New seasons also remind us that we can start anew. Think of your New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you endeavored to lose weight, make amends with a long-lost family member, or read the Bible in a year. It’s never too late to start something new. Jesus said, “‘What is impossible with man is possible with God’” (Luke 18:27 NIV). As someone once said, you can only fall so many times before you get back up again. God will help you if you look to Him for wisdom and guidance.
This spring, thank God for the blessings He sends your way. Trust Him in the moments when fear or disappointment threatens to overwhelm you. While life may change at a rapid pace, remember that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV). He loves you more than you could imagine and His love for you will never change. Through every season of life, He will always prove faithful. Put your trust in Jesus Christ today.
In Christ's Service,
Jennifer
Thomas Alva Edison once said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” How true this is, especially in today’s society. But what if the work we are called to do holds the key to a life-changing experience for another individual? Would we refrain from completing a task with such profound significance?
Many of us work at least five days a week. Although we put 100% into our careers, we often count down the days until our next vacation. Whether we simply need a break to rejuvenate ourselves or we need a break to maintain our sanity, most people enjoy a day off. Nevertheless, there is one job that requires us to be “on-call” 365 days a year. While this might sound a little extreme, it is the most important position we could ever fill.
Jesus said, “‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned’” (Mark 16:15-16 NIV). We are called to share the gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere we go. Jesus didn’t tell us to preach the gospel five days a week, or to solely share the good news at church on Sunday.
Additionally, He didn’t make this commandment optional, for it doesn’t say go into the world and preach the gospel if you feel like it. Jesus knew the importance of spreading the gospel. Whoever believes will be saved and will receive the gift of eternal life in Heaven. Whoever does not believe will be condemned to eternal hell. Wouldn’t you do everything you could to save someone from a burning building? And so we should strive every day to save others from the eternal fire of hell.
As followers of Christ, we are called to share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone we meet. Perhaps you are thinking, I’m not a preacher, evangelist, music minister, deacon, or any other title found within the church or field of ministry. That’s the beauty of the gospel. The only qualification to share the gospel is to believe the gospel. If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you qualify for the job.
When you read the newspaper or watch the evening news, it is evident that Christ’s return is imminent. One day soon, a trumpet will sound and the “dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17 NIV). Our mission is to share this glorious news with others before it is too late.
I Thessalonians 5:2 (NIV) declares, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” Many people will be caught off guard. People often put it off, saying they will accept Christ tomorrow, next week, or even next year. They want to wait until a more “convenient” time. Yet the return of Christ could be today.
Many people think they don’t have enough time to witness to others. Jesus knew this would be the case, even 2,000 years ago. Jesus told His disciples, “‘the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few’” (Matthew 9:37 NIV). Jesus knew that millions of souls needed to be saved, yet most people would be too busy to show them the way to salvation. He knew people would often refrain from sharing the greatest gift ever given in the history of mankind.
Just as Edison said opportunity was missed by most people, we often miss opportunities to share the gospel. Yet God’s Word says, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5 NIV). God places people in our path, if we slow down long enough to notice them there. We could encounter someone on an airplane, at the grocery store, in a hospital, or anywhere else we may find ourselves. Instead of rushing on past them, let’s make a concerted effort to speak to them. Speak words of life. Tell them Jesus Christ loves them more than they could ever imagine.
I can tell you from personal experience that these encounters make a difference. Not too long ago, I witnessed to a lady on an airplane. Uncertain whether I should be one of those people who talk too much to their seatmate, I felt something tugging at my heart strings to speak to her anyway. After some small talk, comparing our travel notes and finding some common ground, I presented her with one of my Gospel tracts, sharing my testimony of how I was raised to life as a premature infant. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she told me how much my story had touched her.
While I will likely never see her again in this life, it is my prayer that I will see her in the life to come. Every time we sow a seed, the Lord will send someone along to water that seed. Whether you are called to sow the seed or nurture the seed, be sure to put forth your best effort. You could be the first person to tell someone that Jesus loves them. Share the gospel with everyone you meet. Be a harvester!
Don’t miss the opportunity to work for the kingdom. When opportunity knocks, you could be the one to lead a lost soul to Christ. If you find yourself contemplating whether or not to share Jesus Christ with the waiter or waitress, the store clerk, your supervisor, or your neighbor across the street, don’t debate the issue. Ask God to give you wisdom. Then, go forth and proclaim the good news! Tell someone about the love of Jesus Christ today!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
I invite you to visit www.christwillreturn.org and www.jennifercampbell.net for more blogs, my Be Encouraged! video series, free mp3 downloads, and more. May they be an encouragement to you today! God's blessings!
Dreamhost
