Introduction
30 Day Devotional Book
This devotional book contains thirty inspirational
devotionals centering on the theme of Friends-ReachingFriends. Order one book for every member of your church
family and a few extras for unexpected guests.
The plan is to ask each person who receives the book
to read a daily devotional along with the related
Scripture, and to pray every day during the outreach
emphasis month. You may want to add special needs,
along with the suggested prayer requests, as your church
reaches your Jerusalem during the month.
The purpose is to allow your whole church family to
focus on praying for the outreach ministry and those who
will be going into the surrounding community. Everyone
may have a part in leading others to Christ, some by
going and others by faithfully praying.
Psalm 5:3, “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning,
O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee,
and will look up.”
Day 1
Witnessing with Authority
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in
earth. Go ye therefore” (Matthew 28:18, 19).
A young man went into a farmer’s field and began filling a sack with ears of corn. After picking only a few ears,
he heard a voice from the edge of the field shouting, “Who
are you and who has given you the right to be picking
corn in this field.” It was the farmer’s hired man. The
young man made his way to the edge of the field and said
to the hired man, “The farmer to whom this field belongs
has given me permission to pick corn from his field.” He
showed the man a piece of paper with written authorization from the owner of the field.
Jesus Christ authorized His New Testament churches
to go into the field of the world, to preach the gospel, to
baptize believers and to teach them to observe His commandments. Every member of every New Testament
church has the privilege, the duty and the authority to go
work in the field of the world, spreading the gospel and
bringing in the harvest of souls. As they go and preach
the gospel, it is with full assurance that the Lord is with
them and will bless them for their labors. Satan and the
world may try to discourage the people of God, but it is
the Lord of the harvest who has sent them to reap.
Remember: You can go and witness by the authority of Jesus
Christ.
Prayer Request for Today: Ask the Lord to give you an
opportunity to witness for Him today.
Day 2
I Am Here with You
“And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto
the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).
A story was told of a soldier in the trenches of Europe
in WWI. His sergeant ordered the squad forward. Immediately, he obeyed, leaving one trench and running
and jumping into a forward trench. After catching his
breath, he panicked, thinking he was alone in the trench.
Then through the darkness the voice of his sergeant who
had also moved forward said, “I am here.” The sound of
that voice and the assurance that he was not alone
calmed his fears.
When Jesus commanded His disciples to go and
preach the gospel to all nations, He assured them that
He was with them. He said, “And, lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world.” Christians can be in the
midst of hundreds of people but feel very alone. They
may even feel like they are in a battlefield surrounded by
thousands of the enemy. They need to hear the voice of
their Lord, assuring them that He is there with them. He
goes with His disciples as they advance, witnessing of
His saving grace. He will never leave them nor forsake
them. His presence calms and comforts the fearful and
helps them to keep moving forward. An old hymn says,
“If Jesus goes with me, I’ll go anywhere.”
Remember: As you go each day into the world, know Christ
is with you.
Prayer Request for Today: Pray a prayer of thanksgiving
for Christ’s presence in your life.
Day 3
A Witness to ALL
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature”
(Mark 16:15).
What a mandate. What a task. What a command. Did
Jesus really mean to “preach the gospel to every creature”?
You may be thinking, “I am just one individual in one
location. I am not a preacher and I do not travel much…definitely not outside the USA. Can I really help to impact the
world?”
Before any big project that seemed overwhelming, I
remember always hearing, “How do you eat an elephant?”
To which I would ghastly respond, “I know, I know, one bite
at a time.”
Yes, you can help impact the world! As an individual, you
can use the opportunities God gives you to reach those in
your community: friends, coworkers, neighbors, classmates,
and so forth. As a member of one of God’s churches, you can
support others through prayers, mission trips and finances
as churches collectively strive to impact the world. You may
feel small and insignificant, but you are a “bite.” And an
important “bite” at that or God would have taken you home
to be with Him. Yes, He wants you to be a part of His kingdom work and He has something for you to do.
So, will you do your part today?
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, thank You for inviting
me to share in your kingdom work. Open my eyes to those
around me so that today, I will do my part to build your kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.”
Day 4
Whosoever Includes Everybody
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
A preacher was preaching about how God would save
“whosoever.” He repeated the word “whosoever” several
times in his message, even at one point saying the word
repeatedly. A young boy came to the pastor after services
and asked, “Preacher, just how many times does the
Bible say ‘whosoever?’ ” The pastor pondered the question for a few moments realizing that he did not know
the exact number. Wanting to give the boy a meaningful
answer, he said, “Enough times to include everybody.”
Jesus Christ shed His blood for all the sins of the
world, and He did not exclude any person from this
grace. Peter affirmed that God is “not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2
Peter 3:9). The invitation of salvation is given to whosoever, so that anybody and everybody may come and take
of the water of life freely. As the people of God live each
day, those to whom God would have them witness are the
“whosoever” of the world. God is willing to save whosoever will call on the name of the Lord by faith for salvation. He has done everything necessary that whosoever
may be saved. His witnesses should have an unlimited
vision of the meaning of “whosoever.”
Remember: Anybody who will call on the Lord will be saved.
Prayer Request for Today: Pray for all those to whom you
witness.
Day 5
Enabled to Witness
“But ye shall receive power, after that the
Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall
be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,
and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto
the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Good leaders equip those under their leadership with
the proper tools and training to get the task done. Coach
Tom Landry once said, “I don’t believe in team motivation. I believe in getting a team prepared so it will have
the necessary confidence when it steps on a field and be
prepared to play a good game.” He led the Dallas
Cowboys to five Super Bowl appearances and two Super
Bowl wins. He equipped his team to succeed.
Similarly, God enables His children through the working of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit illumines your life
as you take in the Word of God. He comes alongside of
you to make you aware of the spiritual needs of those
around you. He strengthens you to be loving and bold
when an opportunity arises to share God’s love with
someone in a practical way. The unsaved ones whom He
is leading you to serve, He is already drawing to His
Father.
You see, God is equipping you to succeed. You cannot
fail if you are submissive to the Holy Spirit’s leadership.
He leads, equips and sustains you to accomplish His
work! You do not have to “go it alone!”
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, thankYou for the Holy
Spirit’s presence in my life. May I yield myself to Him today
when He directs me to someone in need of your love. In Jesus'
name, Amen.”
Day 6
Retreat or Get Help
“And grant unto thy servants,
that with all boldness they may
speak thy word” (Acts 4:29).
Peter and John preached the truth of the gospel of
Jesus Christ, and many people believed the message of
salvation. The Jewish leaders of that time were troubled
by the number of conversions. They arrested Peter and
John and placed them on trial. Peter did not hesitate to
preach the truth to his captors with confidence and boldness. After finding nothing whereby they could condemn
them, the leaders released them, warning them to cease
their preaching about Jesus. When Peter and John
arrived at the assembly of the church, they reported all
that the leaders had done and had said to them. The
church then began to pray and seek God’s help to have
boldness in the face of opposition. It would have been
easy for the church to have been discouraged and quit.
They, however, rather than retreating from the opposition, prayed for God to give them boldness to witness.
The Holy Spirit reminded them of His presence and
power being with them. They continued speaking the
word with boldness.
Disciples today also may meet with opposition. Satan,
the great enemy of God, is working to discourage the people of God and cause them to retreat from witnessing.
When opposition comes, each Christian will have to
make a choice to retreat or get help.
Remember: God, who is greater than all, is willing to help all
who will call on Him.
Prayer Request for Today: Pray for God to strengthen
your faith and give you boldness.
Day 7
The Sacrifice of Service
“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed
your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s
feet” (John 13:14).
Jesus sacrificed His dignity to wash His disciples’ feet.
He was about to sacrifice His life to offer salvation to all
mankind. Jesus taught His disciples this principle: real servanthood requires sacrifice.
You can serve others without any cost to you, but it is not
effective. For example, you offer a ride to someone to the
same destination that you were already going to travel to,
is that real servanthood? You can also serve others with the
expectation that you will receive the same thing back to
you. Let us say that you provide child care one evening for
a couple in return for an evening with your spouse and “no
kids.” Is that real servanthood?
A real servant gives of himself sacrificially to the one he
is serving. Would you like to build a bridge to someone in
your “mission field” who needs to know the love of Christ
personally? Why not serve him with the same love that
Jesus served His disciples?
Ask God to show you an avenue of service to this individual. Here are a couple of examples:
• Neighbor–mow and landscape his yard, just
because you love him
• Coworker–provide meal for his family when
he is busy or stressed
Most people do not care what you know, especially about
Christ until they know that you genuinely care about them.
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, thank You for the
example of sacrifice given by your Son Jesus. Give me a servant’s
heart and show me how to give to those around me.In Jesus’name,
Amen.”
Day 8
Turning Trials to Witness
“But I would ye should understand, brethren,
that the things which happened unto me
have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of
the gospel” (Philippians 1:12).
Life’s trials are God’s classrooms to grow us closer to
Him. But they can also help us be witnesses of Christ.
In this verse, the apostle Paul was under arrest in
Rome. Now how could his imprisonment actually further
the message of Christ? He let everyone know that God
was in control because his bonds were “in Christ”
(Philippians 1:13). He knew that God placed him there
and so he trusted completely in God’s providence for him.
Now what would you do in his situation? look for a way
of escape? complain about the unjust treatment you have
received? give up and do nothing?
What did Paul do in this situation? He submitted himself to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Fruits of the
Spirit began to manifest themselves in Paul’s attitude,
conduct and conversation. Because of his confidence
(Philippians 1:6) that Christ would complete His work,
others took notice and the gospel of Christ was expanded
in this “bad” situation. Is it really “bad” if God’s in control?
So whether you are currently in a trial, coming out of
a trial or about to go through a difficulty, remember that
God can use your circumstances to draw others to Him—
if, you do your part!
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, thank You for taking
me through this time in my life. Build my trust inYou so that your
Holy Spirit in me is seen, especially in difficult times. Use my life
as a platform to showcase Jesus. In Jesus' name, Amen.”
Day 9
God Can Do It
“I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).
A lady sat in business meeting listening as the church
elected officers and workers to serve in various positions
for the coming year. As several offices were elected to
serve, she thought to herself that she might like to serve
in an area. The haunting thought, however, was always
present with her, “I wish I could do that, but I can’t.”
Over and over in her mind she repeated the thought, “I
wish . . . , but I can’t,” and again, “I wish . . . , but I can’t.”
The next Sunday, the pastor preached about Philippians
4:13. He reminded the congregation that what they do
for Christ is not by their strength but through the
strength of Christ. The work of God had to be accomplished by faith in the strength of Christ and not in the
flesh. The lady came to the pastor afterwards and said,
“Pastor, if there is a job in the church left for me to do, I
believe Christ can help me do it.”
That old doubting thought of “I can’t” has often kept
people of God from accomplishing the will of God. Many
have not witnessed because they thought they could not
do the job, but the truth of Philippians 4:13 still holds
true. If people will set their hearts to do the will of God,
God will strengthen them with the strength of Christ.
Where the flesh may fail, the strength of Christ will
always be sufficient to do His will.
Remember: God can strengthen you to be a witness and a
worker for Him.
Prayer Request for Today: Pray for the strength of Christ
as you labor for Him.
Day 10
God’s Provisions to Witness
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”
(Philippians 4:19).
Have you ever struggled in your personal evangelism?
what will I say? what if I mess up? what if they ask
something and I don’t have an answer? what if I am too
afraid and I lock up?
Most believers face these same issues and too many
believers allow these struggles to keep them from reaching
out to those around them. Paul offered these encouraging
words in verse 19 about the promise of God’s provision. He
learned that God would indeed meet his needs as he was
leading others to Christ and building churches.
The same principle applies in your personal efforts to
share Christ. God will “supply all your need according to
his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” If you are concerned
about what to say, God may supply you with other believers who can help train you in sharing Christ with others.
Visit with your pastor about this. He would love to help
you. God has also given you the Holy Spirit who will come
alongside you when you are witnessing to calm you and
embolden you as you share.
God has promised to do His part in meeting your needs
in evangelism. Will you do your part in seeking out help
and depending on the Holy Spirit’s provisions?
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, build my trust in your
provisions as I desire to be more effective in my personal evangelism. ThankYou for helping me by providing me with your Holy
Spirit and other believers like _______________ who will help
me in sharing Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.”
Day 11
The Power of the Gospel
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16).
When Jesus Christ spoke, His words were powerful.
The Bible records the amazement of the people, “And
they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them
as one that had authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark
1:22). The Bible also reveals several occasions when
someone preached the gospel and men either repented of
unbelief and turned to Christ as Savior, or in some cases,
felt the conviction of the truth, but rejected Christ (Acts
2:41; 7:54). These and other stories further show that the
gospel of Jesus Christ has power. Paul likewise declared
that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.
There are many documents and books in the earth,
but none has the powerful affect on the hearts of men
like the Word of God. No other single truth has the affect
that the gospel has on a soul. Christians have a powerful
message that Jesus Christ died for sin, His body was
buried in a grave, and He rose in victory. Jesus paid for
the sins of the world with His blood, and by faith in Him,
men may come into a right relationship with God. Faith
in Christ can change their future from separation to salvation. Having such a powerful weapon with which to
witness to the world should encourage every child of God
to go forth and witness for Christ to the lost world.
Remember: You have a powerful message to give to lost souls.
Prayer Request for Today: Pray that God will increase
your faith in the power of the gospel.
Day 12
A Two-edged Sword
“And take the helmet of salvation, and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).
A man working in the timber business was felling a
tree when he got a large splinter in his hand. He tried to
continue working with the splinter, but by the end of the
day it had become sore and was threatening infection.
Having little medical care in the area, he simply asked a
coworker to use a knife and cut the splinter out of his
hand. There was nothing to deaden the pain, but the surgery was necessary. The coworker did as asked. Afterwards, he cleaned the wound with disinfectant and covered it with a bandage. The wound soon healed and the
man went about working with little thought of the
wound.
Paul described the Word of God as a sword. This twoedged sword of the Spirit enters the hearts of men bringing them under conviction for their sin and unbelief
(Hebrews 4:12). Unless a man first understands that he
is lost and separated in sin, he will not understand his
need of salvation. Like a cutting sword, the truth of the
gospel may hurt as it touches the hearts of men, but the
end result of repentance is well worth that moment of
discomfort. The spiritual surgery of the Word and the
Spirit of God will bring healing to the worst kind of infection, even the curse of sin.
Remember: You have in the gospel the means to heal a
sin-sick soul.
Prayer Request for Today: Pray that God will make you
more skilled in the using of the sword.
Day 13
Prerequisites to Witness
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the
law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in
Israel statutes and judgments” (Ezra 7:10).
Have you ever been so excited about something that you
either skipped over or neglected important prerequisites?
I was pumped up about an invitation to go fishing. But
I had to be ready to leave immediately. So I gathered my
gear, loaded up and arrived on the water ready to bring
in a boat load. As soon as we arrived at the lake, my fishing buddy began catching fish: many and good sized
ones. However, I was taking off old dry rotted line and
sorting through a disorganized tackle box because it had
been over a year since I last used my equipment. I was
not prepared to fish and I missed out on some catches.
Before Ezra began teaching the statutes and judgments of the Lord to Israel, he had to obey them himself.
Before he could obey them, he “had prepared his heart to
seek the law of the LORD.”
You need to be prepared to fish for the unsaved ones
around you by first making time each day to prepare
yourself to follow God. Follow Him and listen to His
counsel and consider His path for you. God will lead you
in witnessing (the who, what, when and where), but you
must be prepared to seek Him first.
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, I desire to seek You
first today in my life. Show me opportunities to share your love
with those around me. In Jesus' name, Amen.”
Day 14
On the Winning Side
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in
you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Remember in elementary school playing those competitive games of football, baseball, basketball or soccer? I
would always want to be on the winning team. Victory was
great. Sometimes, we all knew in advance which team
would prevail based on the players of each team.
As God’s child, victory is yours because “ye are of God.”
God’s Son Jesus made it possible for you to be God’s own son
or daughter. Because of your faith in Christ, you are already
placed on the winning team! You know the outcome!
However, your team still has an adversary, Satan. He will
try to discourage and interrupt advances in reaching lost
people with God’s love. That means he will try to attack you
any time you feel led to share Christ with an unsaved person or any time you try to build a bridge to a person who
may be lost. Beware, your adversary opposes you and will
place obstacles before you.
But be lifted up by the promise that your God is greater
than anything Satan can throw your way. The Holy Spirit’s
presence in your life guarantees victory when you submit to
His leadership.
So when you are ready to “throw in the towel” in sharing
with others, allow God’s power to strengthen you so you can
stay in the game!
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, thank You for stand-
ing beside me today. Remind me, that You are greater than
Satan as I share Christ today. In Jesus' name, Amen.”
Day 15
Serious About Witnessing
“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by
prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21).
Two groups of people went into a community to witness. Jack was the leader of one of the groups. He hurried his group into vehicles and off they went. They
knocked on doors where it appeared that people were at
home and quickly gave them some information about the
church. At other houses, they simply dropped a tract at
the front of the door. They finished with their assigned
area in record time.
The second group first spent time assembled in
prayer. Their group leader, Sam, had also contacted the
group members the night before and encouraged them to
pray about the coming day of outreach and the souls
whom they would contact. Sam’s group went about the
community giving special effort toward speaking to people about their personal relationship with Christ.
On Sunday, the two groups gave reports of their outreach. Jack’s group had left information at many homes,
but no one had received Christ. Sam’s group reported
three souls coming to know Jesus Christ and one family
was planning to be present in the church services. Just
doing the job will not always get the job done. Being serious about telling others about Jesus Christ makes a difference in the salvation of souls.
Remember: Witnessing for Christ requires a sincere heart.
Prayer Request for Today: "Father, help me to be serious
about sharing the gospel today. Please bless the outreach
teams from our church, that many souls will be saved in our
community."
Day 16
Perseverance in Witnessing
“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy,
we faint not” (2 Corinthians 4:1).
Why do some people reject the gospel? Because Satan
has blinded their minds so they cannot see (2 Corinthians 4:4). Why do others receive the gospel? Because
God has shone His light so they can see (2 Corinthians
4:6).
Do you take it personally when someone rejects the message of Christ that you deliver? Remember your task: you
are the ambassador, not the Savior. On the other hand, do
you think too highly of yourself because you take pride in
your ability to “win others” to Christ. Remember, you are
the ambassador, not the Savior. If you answer “yes” to either
question, you fail to understand that you are limited to simply sharing the message of Christ.
After you share Christ, the spiritual battle is so much
bigger than you, a simple ambassador for Christ. This battle wages on a spiritual plane outside your control. You are
just instructed to share God’s love. When you begin to grasp
your role in evangelism, you will not be timid in sharing the
gospel nor will you lose heart when others reject it.
As you faithfully share the gospel with those around you,
you get credit for proclaiming it, irrespective of their
response. You are in a win-win situation and God is pleased
with you. There is no pressure for you to “seal the deal” or
“mess everything up.” Because of that, “we faint not.”
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, thank You for taking
the pressure off of me in sharing the gospel. Help me to be
faithful and clear as I share your love and never give up. In Jesus’
name, Amen.”
Day 17
Fear Not
“Fear not” (Luke 12:7).
As Jesus prepared His disciples for witnessing to the
world, He gave them both warnings of opposition and
assurances of success. Concerning their emotions, He
encouraged them to “fear not.” These encouraging words
were not unusual for Christ. Throughout the Bible, God
issued such words of comfort to His people as they faced
the world. The psalmist wrote, “Yea, though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). Paul also wrote to Timothy, “For
God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and
of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). God has
given His Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of His children, and He encourages believers to “fear not,” rather
have courage in the face of opposition.
As you go forth in the work of the Lord, Satan and the
world will seek to make you fear. Their purpose is to shut
up the mouths of God’s witnesses. Christ encourages you
to “fear not,” rather do His work trusting in Him to take
care of you and give you the victory of seeing souls come
to Christ.
Remember: Christ has planned for your success as you wit-
ness for Him.
Prayer Request for Today: Pray that God will calm your
fears and give you peace about the work of witnessing.
Day 18
Satisfaction of Witnessing
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know
that your labour is not in vain in the Lord”
(1 Corinthians 15:58).
When it is all said and done, will your life have made
a lasting impact on others?
If you know Christ as your Savior, He has called you
to the mission field which is the field of souls in your
sphere of influence. You are an ambassador for Christ to
those folks: neighbors, coworkers, family, classmates, and
friends. Some of the people you have not even met yet!
For parents, your number one mission field is your
immediate family. You love them the most, know them
best and see them every day. Your mission field expands
to others you see consistently and even further to those
who cross your path less frequently. Your mission field is
just as important as the global foreign frontiers that are
being cultivated for harvest by an experienced missionary. God has placed people in your path that need to hear
and see God’s love. That is where you come in!
The message of the resurrected Christ made such an
impact on Paul that he wanted his life to abound “in the
work of the Lord.” Nothing would keep him from this prime
directive. Why? Because he knew that his witness for Christ
was “not in vain,” useless or empty. Every word for Christ
and every action of love would yield eternal rewards.
You can and will make a difference in the lives of others as you share the love of Jesus with those around you.
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, thank You for inviting
me to help in the process of sharing the hope of Christ. Help me
to display the attitude and actions of Christ to those around me
today. In Jesus' name, Amen.”
Day 19
One More Light for Jesus
“Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father
which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
In the days before electricity was so common, a homeless man traveling through a small community noticed
some distance down the road a glowing in the darkness.
Following the glow, he soon arrived at a tent full of people with candles. He had stumbled on to a summer
revival meeting. He entered the tent where the preacher
was preaching loudly of the fires of hell and the glories of
Heaven, and how that knowing Jesus would make the
difference. Soon an invitation was given and the traveler
fell at the altar accepting Christ as Savior. After some
rejoicing, he sat with a group of new converts. An elder in
the service reached out with a candle in hand, saying
“Here, light a candle for Jesus.” The man joyfully lit the
candle as he sat among the brethren singing praises to
the Lamb. The elder turning toward his own seat rejoiced
saying, “One more light for Jesus.”
The world is full of souls traveling along life’s way that
need to see a glowing for Jesus. The more candles lit, the
brighter the glowing. Believers have a choice; they can
hide their lights under a cover or let them shine for
Christ.
Remember: As you go into the world, make your life one more
light for Jesus.
Prayer Request for Today: Pray,“Lord let my life be a light
for You.”
Day 20
Seize Every Opportunity
“There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw
water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
For his disciples were gone away unto the
city to buy meat” (John 4:7, 8).
Take time to read this familiar story of Jesus’
encounter with the woman at the well (John 4:1-43).
What is interesting to me is the focus of the disciples.
They were headed into Samaria and probably passed
right by this woman. They probably glanced at her and
did not think much about her as they were headed to
pick up lunch.
However, Jesus saw her. He seized that moment to
build a bridge to her and ultimately share the good news
with her. He did not allow His hunger, His thirst, her status (single lady drawing water alone in the middle of the
day—red flags to most people of that day), nor what culture said about cross-culture / separate-gender conversations to keep Him from visiting with her about her need
for a relationship with God. He saw her need and took
advantage of that opportunity.
What about you today? You are at the grocery store
and notice a single parent struggling to pick up dropped
groceries. You are filling your vehicle up with gas and
someone strikes up a conversation with you. You are
waiting in line ready to check out next to an elderly person who looks lonely.
“What would be too great a cost for sharing life with
one who’s lost?” – Steve Green.
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, open the eyes of my
heart to see others asYou see them. I want to be sensitive to your
Holy Spirit’s direction to those around me. In Jesus' name,Amen.”
Day 21
Just Sow the Seed
“But other fell into good ground, and brought
forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold” (Matthew 13:8).
A farmer hired a man to help him sow his field with
seed. The hired man began to express doubts about
whether or not the planting would be beneficial. He
doubted whether or not the ground was the right kind of
soil or not. He doubted if the seed was good seed or not.
He doubted whether or not the weather would be good
for a crop. He doubted if there would be sufficient rain.
He noted that the fowls might eat the seed as it sprouted, and suggested that the animals would eat it if the
fowls did not get it. He continued doubting and discouraging the other workers, until finally the farmer told him
to stop talking and just sow the seed. After all, his job
was to sow the seed, not determine the harvest.
God has not called His people to determine the harvest. God is well aware that not all seed that is sown will
produce a harvest, because sinful conditions will prevent
some seed from producing fruit. The worker, however, in
the field should not concern himself with those matters,
or he may discourage himself and others from sowing
altogether. It is his job to just sow the seed and let the
Lord of the harvest take care of the rest.
Remember: Believers are called to just sow the gospel seed.
Prayer Request for Today: Pray for the grace to sow no
matter what the results.
Day 22
Spiritual Vertigo
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to
save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
In the aviation field, pilots are trained to be aware of a
condition in which they lose their sense of direction and
begin questioning, “Which way is up?” Disorientation, or
vertigo, is actually a state of temporary spatial confusion
resulting from misleading information sent to the brain by
various sensory organs. The body’s elaborate navigational
system was superbly designed for locomotion on the ground
at a normal gait, but in an aircraft, during sudden acceleration or radial flight, it can trick you.
So here is what can happen. The instruments on the aircraft indicate that you are losing elevation. The pilot’s
instincts tell him the opposite. If he listens to his instincts,
he will crash. If he places more faith in the instruments
than what “his gut” is telling him, he will continue flying.
Similarly, many people that you will witness to are experiencing “spiritual vertigo.” Their “gut” tells them that their
life is “OK.” But the truth says they need a Savior because
disaster is ahead.
So what will you do? Will you be the one to share the saving message of Christ with them? Will you seek them out
even though they think that everything is “A OK” with
them? Will you point them to the Savior, Jesus Christ?
Ask God to lay someone on your heart who may be experiencing “spiritual vertigo.” Look for ways to build a bridge
to that person and share Christ with him or her.
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, there are those in my
mission field who do not know You and they do not even know
that they need You desperately to save them. Lay him on my
heart today and help me reach out to him with your love. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Day 23
Who Are You?
“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came
where he was: and when he saw him . . . .”
(Luke 10:33).
Take time to read Jesus’ parable about “The Good
Samaritan” in Luke 10:29-37.
Just who were the priest and the Levite who passed by
on the other side? They were “holy, honorable” men. They
could not dirty themselves and stoop down to assist this
helpless man. Because of “who they were,” they did not
see the real need of the man. They only saw someone who
would cost them time and money. Perhaps he would hurt
their reputation or keep them from some very important
task.
Who they were determined what they saw. And what
they saw was a liability to their agenda.
How about you? Do you know who you are? You are an
ambassador for Christ. You are “a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that
ye should shew forth the praises of him” (1 Peter 2:9).
God has chosen you and set you aside for a special purpose. He has called you to display the praises of His Son
Christ to everyone in your sphere of influence…you are
a mission field. He wants you to know who you are so you
will see others differently. Not as a liability to your time,
finances or schedule. But as an opportunity to become a
brother or sister in Christ for eternity!
Remember who you are because it determines what
you see!
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, give me your vision.
Help me to be sensitive to others that You bring across my path
today. May I show your praises to them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Day 24
What Will You Do?
“When he saw him, he had compassion
on him” (Luke 10:33).
Take time again to read Jesus’ parable about “The
Good Samaritan” in Luke 10:29-37.
Yesterday we learned that who you are determines
what you see. Today, notice that what you see determines
what you do.
The Good Samaritan was a servant filled with compassion. When he saw the man who was mugged, beaten
and left for dead, he was moved to respond and help this
man. He did not see a liability as the other two passersby did. Rather, he saw one who had a need that he could
meet. So he took time out of his day, he took resources
out of his finances and he left his pride with the priest
and the Levite. He helped save this man.
So what about you? Who are you and what do you see?
Do you notice the peers and their families who your children play with? Do you see the coworker who is down
and out with despair? Do you take time for the neighbor
who is outside every day when you come home from
work?
God wants you to see those around you from His perspective. Sinners, just like you once were, in desperate
need of a saving touch from the hand of Jesus. He always
wants your sight of them to drive you to do something
about it. Build bridges to these people. Serve them.
Listen to them. Assist them. Share God’s love with them.
So how will you look at them today?
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, give me a servant’s heart to help those whom I see in need. Grant me boldness to set aside my reputation and my agenda to really serve
those around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Day 25
Show Them the Way
“How can I, except some man
should guide me?” (Acts 8:31).
The eunuch had been to Jerusalem to worship. He was
a religious man who cared about his relationship with
God. He desired to know and understand more perfectly
the way of salvation. Since, however, the Jewish people
had rejected Jesus Christ, he would find little help
among them. They might offer him religion, but would
not show him the way to Christ. He looked into the Word
of God and read from the book of Isaiah the prophecy of
the crucifixion of the Lamb of God. He learned how
through the suffering of the Savior sinners could find
healing. Being convicted of his need of this Savior, he was
receptive to the preaching of Philip. God sent Philip to
show this eunuch the way to know Christ.
Many souls in the world are like this eunuch. They are
seeking a relationship with God, but do not fully understand the truth. Many are in need of somebody to help
them, even as the eunuch said, “How can I, except some
man should guide me?” They need somebody to show
them the way. God has sent His people to show the world
the way to be saved through faith in Christ who shed His
blood at the cross.
Remember: People need you to show them the way.
Prayer Request for Today: Pray for God to open an opportunity to witness to somebody seeking the way of salvation.
Day 26
Show Mercy
“Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was
neighbour unto him that fell among the
thieves? And he said, He that shewed
mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him,
Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:36, 37).
Jesus told a story of a man who was wounded by thieves
and left to die. He continued with how certain people while
traveling on the same road came by the injured man. First,
a priest came by the way. The priest was a Jew and therefore of the same nationality as the injured man. Surely he
being both a religious man and a Jew would care for one of
his own nation. He, however, seeing the injured man continued by him on the opposite side of the road. Second, a
Levite, a man of the tribe of Levi, set in his place among the
Jews as a helper to all of the other tribes. He too, however,
passed by on the other side. Third, there came a man of
Samaria. Most of the Samaritans were only half Hebrews,
and because of that, the Jews despised them. An injured
Jew lay on the road, rejected by his brethren, and here was
a man who perhaps had good fleshly reasons to leave him
to die. The Samaritan, however, did much to assure his complete recovery.
Often, the people of God have opportunities to show
mercy. Sometimes it may be toward someone thought
desirable, and sometimes it may involve someone
thought undesirable. Children of God should remember
the mercy that God has shown toward them, and as
Jesus commanded, “Go, and do thou likewise.”
Remember: God has shown great mercy on you.
Prayer Request for Today: Pray that God would give you
the grace to also show mercy to others.
Day 27
A Moment in Hell
“And in hell he lift up his eyes,
being in torments” (Luke 16:23).
Jesus revealed the history of a man who had many
riches but neglected to prepare for dying. When he died
without the Savior, he went to hell and experienced the
torments and horrors of hell. He begged for help and confessed, “I am tormented in this flame.” Abraham assured
him that nothing would be done to help him, rather his
torment would continue. This rich man, realizing his
hopeless condition, prayed Abraham to send Lazarus to
his brethren yet living in the earth. He begged that
Lazarus would warn them less they too would come to
that place of torment. The concern of this man had certainly changed after being a moment in hell. He now was
not concerned with the riches of the world but the riches
of salvation in Christ. His desire was to know his five
brethren would not suffer the same torment that he was
now suffering in hell.
Someone has suggested that a moment spent in hell
would change the thinking of most of God’s people. A
heart concerned with the things of this life would then be
filled with a concern for the unsaved of the world. If you
could see into the horrors of hell, what people would you
see there? Would you see people whom you have known?
How would that moment in hell affect you?
Remember: Somebody you know is lost and going to a place
of torments.
Prayer Request for Today: Pray that God would increase
your burden for the unsaved.
Day 28
No Experience Necessary
“Follow me, and I will make you
fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).
A new business came to town with a sign in front that
read, “NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.” A supervisor
asked one of the newly hired hands, “What experience do
you have?” The young man replied, “None.” The supervisor pulled an older and more experienced man aside and
introduced him to the young recruit, “This is Tom, he
knows what he is doing, just follow him and do what he
does. He will help you learn what to do.”
The work of witnessing to a lost and dying world does
not require a lot of experience. It just requires a willingness to follow the One with the experience, and that is
Jesus Christ. As believers follow the Lord, He helps them
through every event and to meet every challenge. He
expands their knowledge, strengthens their resolve and
increases their wisdom. He will make those who follow
Him as wise as serpents and as meek as doves. Christ
did not ask His disciples about their qualifications, but
simply commanded them to follow Him. When the disciple comes to a place that he does not know what to do, he
should look to the leader, He will help the disciple learn
what to do if he will just follow Him.
Remember: Christ will train you as you follow Him.
Prayer Request for Today: Pray that God will help you
have a willing heart to follow Him.
Day 29
What’s Your Motivation?
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of
angels, and have not charity, I am become as
sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And
though I have the gift of prophecy, and
understand all mysteries, and all knowledge;
and though I have all faith, so that I could
remove mountains, and have not charity, I
am nothing. And though I bestow all my
goods to feed the poor, and though I give my
body to be burned, and have not charity, it
profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
Do you ever consider why you do what you do?
Why do you go to work? To get a paycheck and pay the
bills? Consider this scenerio. God has granted you an ability to work. He has placed you in this vocation at a particular place because He wants you to be “salt and light” to
those around you. He wants you to care for, serve, pray for,
and do as much as you can to connect to your coworkers so
you can brag on God’s love. He knows this is a difficult task
and will take much of your time, effort and service. But He
wants you to make an eternal impact in their lives—not
just be a mere influence. Oh by the way, you will get paid for
this too (in more ways than just cash)!
It is all about having the proper motivation. You may
do some great things, but if your motive is anything
other than love for Christ, then you may be missing out
on some things God has just for you.
Be sure to check up on your motivation gauge from
time to time!
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, thank You for sharing
your love with me. Keep me motivated to love in all the tasks
that I do so that others will see You in my attitudes, actions and
words. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Day 30
Seize the Day
“For he saith, I have heard thee in
a time accepted, and in the day
of salvation have I succoured
thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day
of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Do you live with a Carpe Diem attitude? Do you really
want to make the most of each day?
So what does God have for you today? I do not know,
but He will unfold it before you. As your day begins and
continues, you may be faced with an opportunity to share
God’s love in a practical way with someone at work. You
may be placed in a situation with an unknown person
with whom you can listen to and visit. You might come
across a situation where you can set aside your agenda,
come in and offer a needed helping hand. You may be
called upon to offer God’s comfort to someone in need.
You just do not know what God has in store for you
today. The better question is this: will you respond to
God’s leadership in each situation. When His still small
voice urges you to say something for Him, will you do it?
What if Jesus told the thief on the cross that they
would talk about getting to Heaven a little later on?
What if Phillip did not respond to the Holy Spirit’s
prompting to go to the Ethiopian man? What if Paul and
Silas did not witness for Christ at midnight in chains?
But they all did. They all seized their moment in time
and spoke up for Christ.
God will give you opportunities today. Carpe Diem!
Prayer Request for Today: “Father, help me to realize that
someone may be counting on me today to share with him. Keep
me sensitive to your leadership and give me boldness when I
need to jump in and share. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Prayer Requests