“…in your hearts revere 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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:15-16) We would call this, “Living Out Loud” living a lifestyle that demands an explanation. No matter where we live or work, may we in God’s strength, live out our faith today—always ready to reply gently and respectfully to everyone who asks the reason for our hope. Jesus said, “…you must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour OF MY RETURN.” (Matt. 25:13)
“This is the message we have heard from God and declare to you: GOD IS LIGHT; in Him there is no darkness at all…if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7) Living for Jesus Out Loud is about challenging ourselves to live as though Jesus REALLY IS the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords IN OUR LIFE. We need to learn to exploit the strongest asset God has given us so we can demonstrate His love to others – in our lives. People inspect the lives of those who call themselves Christians and decide not only whether we are genuine Christians but if Jesus is worth their attention. If for no other reason, we must be willing to be thoughtful about our lives and determine whether or not we’re truly demonstrating the love of Christ through the way we live. Living Out Loud is our way of showing what Jesus means to us. It’s about the EVERYDAY, EXTRAORDINARY GIFTS God has given us, as Christians, put them to use for His glory. It’s about us truly becoming His Representatives, His Ambassadors.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham