You read in the Bible of certain persons who have direct encounters with me and are awestruck and transformed. Do you assume that such encounters are available only to a select handful and that you are not on the short list? Does this mean that your relationship with me must be secondhand? I invite you to your own encounter with me. Don’t assume that it must involve a burning bush or angelic visitors or visions. Ask me for discernment and the sensitivity to see the transcendent in everyday life. The word ‘awesome’ has been diminished by overuse, but the principle is still valid and is available to you.

Do you view evangelism with a sharp distinction between the unsaved and the saved with the intent of moving the former into the latter category? There is a broader way to view this activity. Can you see that I was active in your life before you got saved? And after? The same is true for others. Everyone is at a different stage of their spiritual journey. You can minister to everyone you meet by encouraging them to take the next step, whatever that is. Don’t assume that they know what it is. But I do. Ask of me and I will give you discernment that you may know how to minister to everyone you meet.

Do you have a formal theology? This is learned in church or other structured settings in which Bible concepts are taught as a settled body of knowledge established by scholars through the ages. This is beneficial for you. Do you also have a functional theology? This is how you live your life according to what you have found to work, or not work. Have you ever experienced a difference between these two? Everyone has a functional theology whether they express a belief in me or not. Blessed are those who live according to the principles of the Kingdom of God. Blessed are those who do and teach my commandments.

Do you ever wonder what other people think of you? Do you understand that this is none of your business? You may be keenly interested in how you are perceived, but have you ever found out and been deeply hurt or disappointed? Your responsiveness to the opinions of others gives them undue influence over you. Are their opinions congruent with eternal truth? Are they the same as mine? The approval of even one person is subject to immense variability, and since they do not agree with one another, you can’t please all the people any of the time. Do you think I am hard to please? In comparison to this I am easy to please. So it is better not to inquire of how others feel about you. They probably volunteer too much information already.