A Devotional Moment

AND WHEN SAUL WAS COME TO JERUSALEM, HE ASSAYED TO JOIN HIMSELF TO THE DISCIPLES: BUT THEY WERE ALL AFRAID OF HIM, AND BELIEVED NOT THAT HE WAS A DISCIPLE. ~ ACTS 9:26

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The Lord wants all of us to experience conversion and to come to Him. The Lord asks us to trust those new to the faith, and to show them the way, the Truth, and the Word. But sometimes, a person comes to the Lord whom we don’t trust, someone who’s done us great harm in the past. It is hard to accept someone into our Christian faith who once made us feel afraid. Yet, when true conversion happens, when God has forgiven someone’s sins, we are to do the same.

In The Woodcarver’s Snow-kissed Christmas, the protagonists have a history of friendship and the promise of a future together, but the stain of past actions remains to mar the relationship. Only by showing intent can the protagonist prove that forgiveness can be life-changing.

Have you ever been wary of someone’s motives to the point that you questioned the validity of their Christian faith? It is true that evil people do use trusting Christians to mask their own agenda. So, how do you decide when to trust a person’s conversion and when to shy away from a deceiver? When you encounter people whom you’ve never seen redeemed, you must lean on the Lord and ask Him to help you discern the person’s intent. Ask for protection from being duped, and ask for confirmation that the person is truly living for Christ. The Lord will grant you the wisdom you need.

LORD, HELP ME TO SEEK THAT WHICH IS GOOD IN ALL PEOPLE, AND TO SHOW THEM THE WAY TO REDEMPTION. PROTECT ME FROM THE “WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING”. HELP ME TO RECOGNIZE SINCERITY AND TO GIVE GRACE AND SECOND CHANCES TO THOSE WHO MAY HAVE WRONGED ME IN THE PAST BUT ARE NOW REPENTANT IN JESUS’ NAME I PRAY. AMEN.