Word for Today, Fri, 10 Dec 2004: Hope For An Unbelieving Loved One

#1 · December 10, 2004, 4:21 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on December 10, 2004, 4:21 pm
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Word for Today, Fri, 10 Dec 2004: Hope For An Unbelieving Loved One
Dear friends,

Today's devotional message comes from the late Bill Bright's column
entitled Insights from Bill Bright. Today's message is about having
hope for an unbelieving one. I'd like to add my own comments about
relationships with those who do not share our faith and trust in
Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly tells us to minister to one another
and to preach the Gospel to everyone. However, it is also clear that
we ought not to "yoke" ourselves with an unbeliever. What this means
is that when we are ready to find a spouse, we must find out if they
share our faith. If they don't and we marry anyway, we are in direct
disobedience to the Word of God.

Why would God set forth such a command? Well, God knows that people
who have different spiritual beliefs are divided, at least in that
way. God wants marriage to draw a couple closer to each other AND
closer to Him. When two people have different faiths (or no faith
at all), that isn't going to unite, that is bound to divide.

The Bible is clear about something else, though. Suppose you get
married, then after you are married, you become a Christian. What
then? What if your spouse does not share your belief? Separate?
Not at all! The apostle Paul (see 1 Corinthians 7 clearly teaches
that in this case, our task is to love that spouse and win them
over to Christ by our actions and our behavior, loving them with the
kind of love that can only be inspired by the Spirit of the Living
God.

I've made mistakes in the past, thinking that I could win someone
to Christ. When I thought about it sensibly later, I was simply
eager to start a relationship for other reasons, and those reasons
were largely self serving. What's that? I'll call it what it is
without flinching (except to repent). That is sinful, self
serving behavior, that does not honor God one bit.

I've confessed my sin, and my sin has been washed clean bu the
blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ). If you have done similar things,
come clean, confess your sin, get right with God, then turn away
from past wrong, do what's right now. By a changed attitude and
a changed heart, one changed bu the Spirit of God, there are times
that God will strongly use a repentent sinner who turns from wrong
to right, not by their own strength, but leaning on Jesus Christ,

Yours in Christ,
Brian
____________________________________________________________

INSIGHTS from Bill Bright
Reflections from the late Founder and President/Chairman Emeritus of
Campus Crusade for Christ International

Hope For An Unbelieving Loved One

Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire
household
(Acts 16:31, NLT).

Dear friends:

As a young man, I knew what it was to be in love with someone who did
not share my love for our wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In my book, Witnessing Without Fear, I tell the story of how I prayed
several years for my fiance, Vonette Zachary, to receive Christ. When
I proposed and we became engaged, I just knew she was God's woman for
me. She was the loveliest and most beautiful young lady in my hometown
of Coweta, Oklahoma.

Although we were engaged to be married, I knew that I could not marry
her as long as she did not share my enthusiasm for serving the Lord. I
suffered great agony over this. For her part, she thought I had become
a religious fanatic.

She had been very active in the church from her youth, and I assumed
that she was a Christian. As time passed, however, I realized that
Vonette had not given her life to the Lord. So I prayed, and I prayed
some more. Doubts grew, and I began to wonder if God had really wanted
me to marry this attractive, wonderful young woman who refused to accept
Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord.

As a new Christian at the time, I wrote long letters to her explaining
my faith in Christ. She became so exasperated and so concerned that she
came to California to try to rescue me from fanaticism. She wanted to
see for herself whether there was any hope for our relationship.

I introduced her to Dr. Henrietta Mears, director of Christian Education
at the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. Dr. Mears had been a
major influence in my turning to Christ. Thankfully, God used Dr. Mears
to introduce Vonette to our Lord. Her life was changed, a few months
later we were married, and we have had an incredible life together ever
since, as husband and wife, best friends, parents and ministry partners.
Vonette's own ministry activities have had a huge worldwide impact.

Many are hurting because of a loved one who does not believe in the God
they love. I can identify with you if you have been praying for a son,
daughter, spouse, or friend and have not yet seen results. When that
loved one is a spouse, your whole family life may seem threatened. But
God's Holy Word offers hope. And I want to tell you: Do not be
discouraged.

Trust in God's timing. Although I wanted Vonette to receive Christ
right away, God chose to wait three years, a different timetable -- one
that brought greater glory to Himself. He is sovereign, and will answer
your prayer in His special way, at His special time.

Always remember, God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9)
and He promised, "If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have
what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15, NIV). Claim that promise for
your loved ones and friends!

Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission
each year until our Lord returns,

Bill Bright

-------
The late Dr. Bill Bright was Founder and President/Chairman Emeritus of
Campus Crusade for Christ, an organization which began as a campus
ministry in 1951 and now has more than 27,000 full-time staff and up to
500,000 trained volunteer staff in 196 countries in areas representing
99.6 percent of the world's population. In the past 50 years, Campus
Crusade for Christ has seen approximately 6 billion exposures to the
gospel worldwide. The film, "JESUS," which Bright conceived and funded
through Campus Crusade for Christ, is the most widely translated and
viewed film of any type ever produced. Since its use began in 1980, the
film has been translated into 839 languages and viewed or listened to by
over 5.7 billion people in 228 countries. Dr. Bright was also the
author of more than fifty books. Dr. Bright recently co-founded Global
Pastors Network to "Touch, Teach and Train" a group of 5 million new
house churches around the world 24/7/365 at
www.globalpastorsnetwork!
.org.

Copyright (c) 2003, Bill Bright. All rights reserved. However, readers
may copy and distribute this message as desired, without restrictions in
number, as long as the content is not altered. Forwarding this e-mail
to friends is encouraged. For many evangelistic and spiritual growth
materials, visit the Campus Crusade for Christ Web site at
www.ccci.org. See www.campuscrusade.org for Bill Bright's
own materials.

Additional devotionals are available from Crosswalk.com:
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.78.29333.4.293748

For Copyright Terms visit
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.78.29333.5.293748

____________________SUBSCRIPTION INFO_______________________

* Copyright 2004 Salem Web Network and its Content
Providers. All rights reserved.

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

__________________________________
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Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Word for Today, Fri, 10 Dec 2004: Hope For An Unbelieving Loved One
Dear friends,

Today's devotional message comes from the late Bill Bright's column
entitled Insights from Bill Bright. Today's message is about having
hope for an unbelieving one. I'd like to add my own comments about
relationships with those who do not share our faith and trust in
Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly tells us to minister to one another
and to preach the Gospel to everyone. However, it is also clear that
we ought not to "yoke" ourselves with an unbeliever. What this means
is that when we are ready to find a spouse, we must find out if they
share our faith. If they don't and we marry anyway, we are in direct
disobedience to the Word of God.

Why would God set forth such a command? Well, God knows that people
who have different spiritual beliefs are divided, at least in that
way. God wants marriage to draw a couple closer to each other AND
closer to Him. When two people have different faiths (or no faith
at all), that isn't going to unite, that is bound to divide.

The Bible is clear about something else, though. Suppose you get
married, then after you are married, you become a Christian. What
then? What if your spouse does not share your belief? Separate?
Not at all! The apostle Paul (see 1 Corinthians 7 clearly teaches
that in this case, our task is to love that spouse and win them
over to Christ by our actions and our behavior, loving them with the
kind of love that can only be inspired by the Spirit of the Living
God.

I've made mistakes in the past, thinking that I could win someone
to Christ. When I thought about it sensibly later, I was simply
eager to start a relationship for other reasons, and those reasons
were largely self serving. What's that? I'll call it what it is
without flinching (except to repent). That is sinful, self
serving behavior, that does not honor God one bit.

I've confessed my sin, and my sin has been washed clean bu the
blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ). If you have done similar things,
come clean, confess your sin, get right with God, then turn away
from past wrong, do what's right now. By a changed attitude and
a changed heart, one changed bu the Spirit of God, there are times
that God will strongly use a repentent sinner who turns from wrong
to right, not by their own strength, but leaning on Jesus Christ,

Yours in Christ,
Brian
____________________________________________________________

INSIGHTS from Bill Bright
Reflections from the late Founder and President/Chairman Emeritus of
Campus Crusade for Christ International

Hope For An Unbelieving Loved One

Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire
household
(Acts 16:31, NLT).

Dear friends:

As a young man, I knew what it was to be in love with someone who did
not share my love for our wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In my book, Witnessing Without Fear, I tell the story of how I prayed
several years for my fiance, Vonette Zachary, to receive Christ. When
I proposed and we became engaged, I just knew she was God's woman for
me. She was the loveliest and most beautiful young lady in my hometown
of Coweta, Oklahoma.

Although we were engaged to be married, I knew that I could not marry
her as long as she did not share my enthusiasm for serving the Lord. I
suffered great agony over this. For her part, she thought I had become
a religious fanatic.

She had been very active in the church from her youth, and I assumed
that she was a Christian. As time passed, however, I realized that
Vonette had not given her life to the Lord. So I prayed, and I prayed
some more. Doubts grew, and I began to wonder if God had really wanted
me to marry this attractive, wonderful young woman who refused to accept
Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord.

As a new Christian at the time, I wrote long letters to her explaining
my faith in Christ. She became so exasperated and so concerned that she
came to California to try to rescue me from fanaticism. She wanted to
see for herself whether there was any hope for our relationship.

I introduced her to Dr. Henrietta Mears, director of Christian Education
at the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. Dr. Mears had been a
major influence in my turning to Christ. Thankfully, God used Dr. Mears
to introduce Vonette to our Lord. Her life was changed, a few months
later we were married, and we have had an incredible life together ever
since, as husband and wife, best friends, parents and ministry partners.
Vonette's own ministry activities have had a huge worldwide impact.

Many are hurting because of a loved one who does not believe in the God
they love. I can identify with you if you have been praying for a son,
daughter, spouse, or friend and have not yet seen results. When that
loved one is a spouse, your whole family life may seem threatened. But
God's Holy Word offers hope. And I want to tell you: Do not be
discouraged.

Trust in God's timing. Although I wanted Vonette to receive Christ
right away, God chose to wait three years, a different timetable -- one
that brought greater glory to Himself. He is sovereign, and will answer
your prayer in His special way, at His special time.

Always remember, God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9)
and He promised, "If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have
what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15, NIV). Claim that promise for
your loved ones and friends!

Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission
each year until our Lord returns,

Bill Bright

-------
The late Dr. Bill Bright was Founder and President/Chairman Emeritus of
Campus Crusade for Christ, an organization which began as a campus
ministry in 1951 and now has more than 27,000 full-time staff and up to
500,000 trained volunteer staff in 196 countries in areas representing
99.6 percent of the world's population. In the past 50 years, Campus
Crusade for Christ has seen approximately 6 billion exposures to the
gospel worldwide. The film, "JESUS," which Bright conceived and funded
through Campus Crusade for Christ, is the most widely translated and
viewed film of any type ever produced. Since its use began in 1980, the
film has been translated into 839 languages and viewed or listened to by
over 5.7 billion people in 228 countries. Dr. Bright was also the
author of more than fifty books. Dr. Bright recently co-founded Global
Pastors Network to "Touch, Teach and Train" a group of 5 million new
house churches around the world 24/7/365 at
http://www.globalpastorsnetwork!
.org.

Copyright (c) 2003, Bill Bright. All rights reserved. However, readers
may copy and distribute this message as desired, without restrictions in
number, as long as the content is not altered. Forwarding this e-mail
to friends is encouraged. For many evangelistic and spiritual growth
materials, visit the Campus Crusade for Christ Web site at
http://www.ccci.org. See http://www.campuscrusade.org for Bill Bright's
own materials.

Additional devotionals are available from Crosswalk.com:
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.78.29333.4.293748

For Copyright Terms visit
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.78.29333.5.293748

____________________SUBSCRIPTION INFO_______________________

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less.
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