“I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame.” (Psalm 119:46, NIV)

Our devotion to God’s Word is a vital part of our spiritual formation. Who we are and the life we live is a reflection of the impact the Word of God has had on our lives. Our hope, faith, and peace find their roots in how we see God deal with those who went before us as recorded in the Scriptures. But it is important for us to understand that our devotion to God’s Word is not just about us. It is not just about strengthening the relationship we have with God. It is also about our witness and testimony to the world around us. We have been called to be a witness to the world about what God has done in our lives. To be an effective witness we need to be able to defend our faith. We need to be able to give answers to the questions that the world has about life. Peter says in 1 Peter 3:15: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (NIV)

It is time for the American church to become better at defending our faith — not for the sake of debate but for the sake of winning souls for Christ. There are people in our world today who don’t trust the current stream in thinking. They are not buying into the popular worldview. They are yearning to know whether there is anything true and genuine out there. We know truth and genuineness because we know Jesus Christ. We must train and equip ourselves to provide the bridges that bring the skeptics toward Jesus.

Peace!

Pastor Tom

www.firmlyrooted.church