How Shall They Believe

  When we feed on the Word of God we become like the Word on which we feed. When we consume the Word on a daily basis we are transformed into a new person with similar characteristics as Christ. When we are spiritual babies we feed on the sincere milk or the basics of the Word. Nothing else will nourish the inner man. As we grow in our experience the Holy Spirit takes the Word and makes us into mature Christians. Our greatest struggle is to continue growing in maturity. We should never get comfortable with our relationship with the Lord. How many relationships have you seen fall apart when one person takes the other for granted? We are obligated to our family, our friends, and the Lord God Almighty to grow in the knowledge of the Lord. Personal salvation is free, but a dedicated man who loves his Lord will spend precious time with Him on a daily basis through Bible study and prayer. We cannot rest on our own salvation. We are called to share the Word of God with others. After the resurrection Jesus sat down with some of His disciples to a breakfast of fish and bread. Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Peter said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

  We need to take the challenge of feeding the flock of God. We need to accept responsibility for our family and friends by setting a good example of living for Christ.  To do this, we must diligently partake of the Word. The Holy Spirit has placed in our hands the responsibility for our family church.  “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20 NKJV This is where Christianity started and this is where we need to return. Sure, it’s good to attend church, but our relationship with Christ starts at home. Daily family and friend devotion is the cornerstone of spiritual growth.

It takes planning to create an appetite for God’s Word. We can use daily devotions, but these are usually short, and do not dig deep enough into the root of His Word. There are some great Bible commentaries broken down verse for verse. It is fun to get the whole family involved in reading and sharing their own experiences. It needs to be a time that is looked forward to by everyone, and if there is someone who is less than enthusiastic we need to bring them around by using some of their ideas for fellowship time. After Bible study we discuss some of the issues we are having at home, at school, and at work. Then we all get together in a circle, holding hands, taking turns praying. Our leader begins with gratitude for what we have. When a family is in a loving environment, there are no secrets from one another.  If family members have had words in the past we address these issues asking God to help us forgive one another. We heal the wounds of discord and we create bonds of everlasting love. This is the way of the Lord. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”  Matthew 7:7-8 NKJV

We take our family devotion to our neighbors. We set up a time once a week and invite those around us to come and worship with us. We sit around and have fellowship one with another. We have our devotion, and maybe a snack afterwards. It is that simple. Before, you were a believer. Through personal daily Bible study and prayer you became a receiver. When you started your family devotion you become a minister, and when you invited your neighbors over for tea and Bible study you became an evangelist. Now you are a servant of Jesus Christ and a son of God, a fully matured Christian who walks by faith. And the love of Christ abounds within you.

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things. Romans 10:14-15 NKJV