Have You Ever Been Challenged?

Good Morning Everyone!

What a gorgeous morning God has blessed us with out there this morning. The weather was just cool enough to make the run perfect at 5 bells ;o) This morning I want to talk about something that has recently happened in my life and something I hope that all of you can relate to. I have recently found a very good friendship that I never would have thought had potential to be so. Let's just say that this friend was placed in my life for a reason and I'm very blessed by the opportunity to share my faith walk with them. Prior to the end of last year and the beginning of this year I knew this person, but only only on the surface. Recently, we have on many occasions talked about my faith walk and just how powerful the Grace of Jesus has been in my life. These discussions reached a very deep point last Friday when my friend asked me what I thought about the other religions and why was everything in the Bible the truth and not just a bunch of stories. Have you ever been challenged like this? Well, let's just say that I was fairly deficient in my toolbox, but struggled and muddled through the discussion.

I basically started out with a diatribe on Biblical history from the Old Testament to the New Testament and a large focus on Paul's letters. Actually I don't think we talked much about Revelation at all. Revelation would probably be way too involved at this point. Well, my efforts were not as effective as I'm sure others could have been, but at least I didn't completely turn my friend away. I guess this was a good lesson for me on humility, patience, and being a witness.

I thought I was prepared for such a discussion, but my friend challenged me in ways I certainly wasn't ready for. It was not until I had time to take a step back that I realized that sometimes being a witness is not about the challenge, its about the ability to listen to another person's heart and where Jesus is in their life. Its also about the recognition that we are never at the same point in our relationship with God as those in our lives and that is Okay! I would say that my friend most reminds me of the Prodigal Son. They are just away from home right now, but the Father has not let them go. Who knows maybe I'll be lucky enough to be the driver to take them home... How awesome would that be? I won't complain though... God has already given me an overwhelming gift by providing me the opportunity to share in his name. Remember words on a page are just that without a person to share them and give them meaning.

I leave you with this section of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. This was the response from the Father to the Older Brother who was angry that they were celebrating his brother's return after being in Godless places "My son, the father said, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But, we had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found." Luke 15:31-32.

Love in Christ,
Steve