Your Life Is a Gospel Witness By Erwin Lutzer

Your Life Is a Gospel Witness By Erwin Lutzer People usually do not believe the Gospel until they have met a Christian who has integrity, who loves them, who knows what he or she believes and is willing to stand for truth. I was reading the other day where the Apostle Paul says that we are an epistle “known and read by all men” (2 Corinthians 3:2). We can complain all we want about our culture and where it’s going, but we can still have people over for dinner and share the Gospel with them. We can still have a meeting in our home with our friends and neighbors and represent Christ to them. Are we going to use the opportunities that we still have to evangelize? One study found that the reason Christians don’t evangelize is because of unconquered sin in their lives. Their sin convicts them, and their conscience says to them, How can you recommend Jesus to someone when He has not delivered you from your sins? That’s an issue we must confront, because if we can evangelize and see souls saved, it will rekindle our faith in the Gospel to live up to its promises. Today’s Prayer Dear Heavenly Father, we repent of any sin that is causing us not to walk in integrity as Your children. Please help us present a clear picture of You and Your love to this dying and sometimes unfriendly world. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Praying in a Pagan Land By Erwin W. Lutzer

Praying in a Pagan Land By Erwin W. Lutzer When the Israelites were exiled to Babylon, they were commanded to seek the welfare of this pagan city and to “prayto the Lord” for its people (Jeremiah 29:7). The most compelling example of praying during this time is Daniel who, even as a 17-year-old boy arriving in Babylon, had a consistent prayer life. In time, he became a trusted advisor to King Darius. Some of the governors of the kingdom became jealous of Daniel. They convinced Darius to make a decree that “whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions”(Daniel 6:7). But Daniel feared God more than the lion’s den! He continued to get down on his knees three times a day to pray and give thanks before his God. The lesson for us is clear: Let us not be intimidated by a culture that wants to prohibit our obedience to God and worshiping Him. Let us not back off when laws are made that compel us to compromise our conscience or silence our witness. If we were to spend as much time praying for the enemies of Christianity as we do complaining about them, we might yet be amazed at what God would do in our country. As a result of Daniel’s prayer, God brought the Israelites from Babylon back into the land. God often works without our prayers, but our intercession moves His hand.     Today’s Prayer Dear God, we pray for those who rise up against Your Kingdom. Help them come to hallow Your Name and treasure You above all. Grant that they would come under Your saving power and become Your loyal servants. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.