Bible Devotions for Living

Do you speak about God and spiritual things often with people, including non-believers?

The Example of Jesus

¹⁶ Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. ¹⁷ But Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.” ¹⁸ This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill Him: Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. ¹⁹ Then Jesus replied, “I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing, and He will show Him greater works than these so that you will be amazed. ²¹ And just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to anyone He wants to. ²² The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, ²³ so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. (Jn 5:16-23)

Throughout His ministry, Jesus spoke of the Father often. In the Gospel of John alone, He brought up the Father in EVERY extended conversation (13 out of 13) and it didn’t matter if the audience was believers or not. Jesus spoke of the Father’s works, love, glory, desire to teach, power, and more.

Jesus was focused on God the Father and that showed in all His conversations.

The Example of the Apostles

The apostles couldn’t stop speaking about God, what He did, and what He said:

¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; ²⁰ for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Ac 4:19-20)

They saw Jesus raise the dead, calm the wind and sea, heal countless sicknesses and infirmities, saw Him in a glorified state, and saw Him raised from the dead. The apostles had a lot to tell people about God because of their experiences with Him. In the same way, you have a lot to say about Jesus and what’s He’s done in your life. He’s saved you, taught you from His Word, changed your heart and attitude, guided you, comforted, scolded, and protected. Do you speak of the Lord to others frequently? If not, why not?

Make the Decision to Speak of Him Often

Do you remember what the believers were saying when they were filled with the Holy Spirit for the first time in Acts 2? In that passage they began speaking in other languages and the people in the crowd heard it and said:

… we hear them speaking the magnificent acts of God in our own languages (Ac 1:11)

The Holy Spirit inspired and drove the believers to speak of the magnificent acts of God. That was the first thing the Holy Spirit inspired them to talk about.

Make a conscious effort to speak about Jesus and what He’s done in your life. Talk about your salvation, what He showed you yesterday in Scripture, or how He gave you peace the other day when you were stressed, or what you learned in church. Talk about what He’s done in Scripture. Talk about God’s magnificent works.

If you are shy about speaking up about what God has done and His message, be like the believers in Acts and pray for boldness:

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness (Ac 4:29)

Examine yourself:

What do you spend most of your time talking about? What do those topics show is most important to you? Do they ever show you are passionate about God?

Do you speak of God, what He’s done, and what He’s done in your life regularly? If not, why not?

Are you excited to tell others about God’s activity in your life?  If not, what does that say about you?

Be like the man healed of demon possession who went and told others what the Lord did for him:

¹⁸ As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging Him to be with Him. ¹⁹ But He would not let him; instead, He told him, “Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed. (Mk 5:18-20)

Proclaim the message … (2 Tim 4:2)

For I will proclaim Yahweh’s name. Declare the greatness of our God! (Dt 32:3)

“Give thanks to Yahweh; proclaim His name! Celebrate His works among the peoples. Declare that His name is exalted.” (Isa 12:4)

¹ Give thanks to Yahweh, call on His name; proclaim His deeds among the peoples. ² Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell about all His wonderful works! (Ps 105:1-2)