8/4/26

I am struggling this morning! In fact, my heart aches. I have literally been fighting back tears.

I had an eye doctor appointment this morning, and when I had finished with it, I went to a local drive-thru to get me some breakfast. I had already spent my personal time with the Lord. I had already spent my personal time reading the Word of God, and I was already sad because of issues in God's church. I am this way quite often because of the burden God has given me for His Church. I had started to pray over these things, and also over where God wanted me to go in Scripture for today's Devotional, when He led me to 2 Peter 2. I had just started to study the passage in context when the time came that I had to leave. So an hour went by with this passage on my mind and in my heart. However, because my main concern this morning was the church, I wasn't really paying close attention to the scripture. That scripture reads, 2 Peter 2:21 NASB95: For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

Now back to the drive-thru. I place my order and get to the window. The person waiting on me is friendly, and we greet each other with a good morning, how are you today? Then I thank her as she gives me my receipt, and as always, I say. "I just want you to know that Jesus loves you, (I begin to hand her our witness card) and say This card tells you about His love for you." At this point, she interrupted me and said: "No, thank you." I said, "If you will look at the back, you might find answers to any questions you have about Him." She, with a sudden change in the expression on her face, took the card, handed me the bag, shut the window, turned around, and threw it in the garbage can. She never looked back at me as she went around the corner out of my sight. I drove off hurting for her. The hurt kept building until it reached a point where I felt just broken. Then this verse: 2 Peter 2:21 NASB95: For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

I heard a man say that if you leave this place today without Christ, you will realize that apart from Satan, I am your worst enemy. Because I just shared with you Jesus, and you left without Him. This will increase your torment in hell. As you are there knowing that you had the opportunity today to be saved and refused.

With this, my eyes began to water, and I said to the Lord. She refused; why did I share and make it harder on her in eternal hell? His reply made my heart hurt even more for her. "He said, 'You had to share so she had an OPPORTUNITY today to receive Me."

What are we focused on today? If it is minor stuff, that isn't giving someone the only opportunity they might have today to receive Christ, then we are not focused on the right thing. I am praying for this lady. I pray she will go back and pick up that card and see how Jesus' love was displayed. It was displayed in His sacrifice, for our sins (paying our debt), in his resurrection to defeat death (providing eternal life), and His ascension to the Father (giving us the only Way to Him)

If you are reading this today without Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please accept Him through the hearing of His Gospel. You just read it. I don't want to make eternal death harder on you. I want to show you the grace of God in eternal life. So you can avoid eternal death (hell) altogether.

Love Brother Scott