Unforgettable...

I have been thinking about the past year a lot lately  I know its not quite time for end of the year reflections, but sometimes it just hits me. Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing some of these moments with you. The first one that comes to mind is a very powerful display of true repentance.

I got a call late one night. I usually silence my phone before I go to sleep, but this time I hadn't. I could never have expected what I would hear. It was one of the most unusual requests I have ever had. A trembling voice asked me if I was busy the next day and what time I normally got up. Then they asked an unforgettable question: "Could you meet me at the jail tomorrow morning?" You see, they had a family member that was running from the police. They had came to our church, heard the Word of God preached, and had been convicted by God. They were repenting and wanted to turn themselves in.

Wow.

I was truly in shock for a moment. I had no words. Finally, I heard, "Are you there?' come from the phone. "Yes, yes!" I stuttered. "I would be honored to be there with you."

I met them at the local jail. Through many tears and prayers in the parking lot, they told me their story. How they were tired of running and felt like God had lead them here. They were truly broken before God and willing to do whatever He asked of them. We all walked together to the jail where I was able to talk to officers. They treated her with respect and assured me they would take good care of this person turning themselves in.

I will never forget that moment. That was one of the truest pictures of repentance I have ever witnessed. Going from running away from the law (both God's and man's) to running to it. Thank you God for allowing me the honor of being there, praying with this person, and bringing them to repentance.

In Christ,
jon walton

The Struggle...

I have had several interesting conversations with people lately. Particularly with things they have been told in the past about the Bible, the character of God, or traditions in the churches they are attending or have attended in the past. It usually always leads to the statement: “Well, this is what I have always been told.” Can I tell you that statement scares me to the core. My response is usually, “I understand, what does the Bible say about what you believe?” The response too many times is: “I don’t really know. It’s just what I have be told.”
Allow me to share a principal I have learned that has never let me down yet. I never take a stand on anything that I can’t back up with scripture. Let me explain why. At some point in our walk with Jesus Christ, our faith, what we believe, will be questioned. Someone will ask why we believe what we believe. Someone will disagree with what we believe. Someone will make fun of us for what we believe. When that time comes, a struggle will begin between ourselves and our faith.
I have talked to so many people who wish they never had to struggle. They have said they wish they were just told the truth in the beginning and never had it questioned. But I have learned that the struggle is one of the best things to strengthen my faith. Because when I am questioned, when I am challenged, I dig for the truth.
I want to be able to say, “Here is the scripture from God’s Holy Word that leads me to believe this.” God’s Word is my source for how I live my life. If I base my beliefs on my or other people’s opinions, I am not fully submitting myself to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Instead, I am setting myself up as the ruler of my own life and if I have given my life to Jesus, I am not my own. I am bought by His blood. I am redeemed from myself.
I understand where these people are coming from. No one really likes the struggle because it is hard. But Jesus knows how to make us more sure in our faith.
And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions,because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out in our heartsthrough the Holy Spirit who was given to us. – Romans 5:3-5
Don’t run from the struggle. Thank God for it.

In Christ,
jon walton


The Struggle...