NOVEMBER 23, 2025 ~ FROM A PASTOR'S HEART

NOVEMBER 23 DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING: 1 PETER 3:13-17

With my own kids and with every church I have been blessed to pastor, I have always told them that they need to know what they believe and why they believe it. For my kids the answer of, "because my Dad said," was not good enough. And to the churches I have pastored, to say, "because the pastor said" was not enough. The matter of true discipleship is to make people followers of Jesus, not to make them followers of a certain personality, or religious movement...but followers of Jesus! And as followers of Jesus, we need to be ready to give an answer for why we follow Him, why we believe in Him, why we call Him Lord.

Have you ever asked yourself why you believe in Jesus? Are you able to articulate who He is...not just who you want Him to be...but who He is? When asked why is following and believing in Jesus different from following Buddhism, or Islam, or Krishna, or The Unification Church, or the New Age, or the thousands of other "isms" out there...can you give an answer? What is the source of your information? Where do you go for your final authority on truth? Do you know what you believe and why you believe it? The Lord does not leave us wandering or wondering when it comes to truth. He has given us His infallible Word as our final source of truth. He has given us His Holy Spirit as our teacher of truth. And He has called us to study and walk in that truth. Some would say I will just let my walk do my talking. While a biblical walk is important, how will the world know the reason for your walk if you don't tell them? How can you tell them if you are not ready to give an answer for your walk? Jesus said to His followers, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses of Me..." It is our call to believe in Jesus. It is our call to know why we believe. It is also our call to share that hope we have in Him with everyone, everywhere!

Please share your thoughts.