Daily Devotional

In 1969 I sat in my English class listening to the professor expound his political beliefs about the population explosion, the world famine to come, the war in Vietnam, free love, drugs, and the necessity of riots on the streets across America. He went on to refer to the police as “pigs.” (My beloved father and uncle were both policemen.) He lectured the class, discussing everything but English. It wasn’t his observations that troubled me--it was his lack of hope. My fellow students ate it up! To me, however, it seemed so dark as if evil had the world in its grasp. When I tried to give my new-found Christian faith and hope a voice, I was squashed. I felt a heavy burden of despair. Week after week I struggled in class.

One day after my English class, I raced across the Campus, fuming in frustration. I ran home, shut my bedroom door and poured over a familiar Scripture:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the World that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

I knew this to be the most popular verse in the New Testament. Today, it had an even deeper impact. I whispered to myself:

“Evil and darkness had not won! Why won’t they listen?”

I decided my faith must bear fruit. It must act! After much prayer, I signed up for an evangelistic team project. I admit I was scared but how could it be worse than my English class?  We walked the Santa Cruz Beach-Boardwalk and approached people, asking them a simple question: “If you were to die today, why would God let you into Heaven.”

After many attempts to generate the conversation with people, finally a couple of women responded. After a substantial conversation, I had the joy of leading them in prayer for salvation. That day my heart soared in praise that God had led me to someone that listened to the truth of Good News of the Gospel of Hope in Jesus Christ.

Today my prayer is that world events will revive people’s interest in the God of Victory.
I also pray that we as Christians will revive our commitment to share the Gospel. If one person will not listen, go to another and another until you find an open heart.  Don’t let one closed door stop you. People need hope. They need to walk in faith in the God of Victory—especially my English professor and my classmates who bought his lies.

For Parents and Grandparents and Teachers:

1. Teach your kids to share the Gospel.  Keep it simple. Teach one concept at a time:

• God loves you.
• Jesus died on the cross for your sin (mistakes).
• Jesus rose from the dead. He is alive.
• It’s a free gift to Heaven-forever.
• Pray and accept His free gift of salvation.

2. Pray with your kids about who they should tell about Jesus.

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.