A professor sent me a document he wrote a few years ago “in an effort to ‘defend’ my faith on the basis of my Christian outlook.” It was quite a thick piece of work and I had to focus to understand it. Even after a few times of rereading it I struggled to get my head around everything! He quoted a few major historical names who had put in loads of energy to explain and defend our Christian faith.

Many intellectuals most probably started with the question: Is what we believe correct? For many years, these men left no stone unturned in their thinking to ensure that they believed correctly. The world is looking the way it does, because people follow any Tom, Dick and Harry without first making sure that these guys are on the right road.

We shouldn’t believe things simply because that’s the way we were brought up and because everybody says so. We must make sure we’re on the right road with the right message in our pocket. That’s why Paul instructs us: ¹Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine.

Make sure you have the right facts about God before discussing it with someone. Make sure that you visit God’s Word often enough so that you learn the correct information about God. Even after the 17 pages long, very impressive academic thesis, the professor concluded:

In conclusion, I recommend that every reader of the above thesis follow this advice.

Read the Bible regularly, memorise key verses and quote them when you are attacked and tempted by the enemies of the Christian. Take up the shield of faith and the Sword of the Spirit (i.e. the Word of God). Get to know and use it well.

This is for each of us who are called a child of God. We must examine God’s Word so often that it changes our thoughts and the way we walk through life. Then we will get closer and closer to his will for our lives. Others will see it and want to be like that too.

Then we will be able to live the second instruction in the verse – to use every opportunity to share the real facts about God with others. We have to do it where we work. When we are with family and friends, we should never waste an opportunity to introduce God to them.

Remember, there are many people in the world who have not yet heard about or seen God. We don’t know who they are, because they usually don’t proclaim it all over.

Live the right God out there. Live the God who saves people from the hardship of the world. It’s the right thing to do.

Scripture
Titus 2:1-5

Reflection
Do you have all the facts?
What must you do to get them?
Who around you needs them?

Prayer
Lord, it’s not easy to talk to others about You when one isn’t used to it, but I don’t want to be ashamed of You. Holy Spirit, please make me brave and help me start somewhere. Please keep me on the right road. Amen.