Day 11 – When What You Think and Feel Don’t Matter

Your Next 40 Days - Day 11

Read

2 Timothy 4:2-5

Reflect

Ever try to return something to a store, only to discover you have missed the return deadline? You can complain and disagree, but you missed it.

I walk away thinking “I wish their return policy was different”, “their refund policy should be different” (okay, sometimes I even think other things…).

But what I think or believe is kind of irrelevant at that point, isn’t it? All I’ve got is a toaster I don’t need or an ill-fitting shirt. I’m stuck.

Just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

There are more than a few things in life I don’t like: rain on my vacation, disease, speeding tickets, car repairs, malfunctioning computers, famine, or broken relationships.

Sometimes when it comes to what we believe about eternity, it’s easy to think “Well I don’t agree with hell, or that Jesus is the only way to heaven, so I just won’t believe in it.”

But does not liking something mean that it’s not true?

If you lived your life that way (disbelieving things you don’t like or agree with) would things generally go better or worse for you?

So here’s a tough question we’re all wrestling with:

Why would eternity be any different?

It’s not a fun question to ask, but it just might save your life.

Respond

Belong – Because you can belong before you believe.
If you apply a different standard of logic to eternity than you do to everyday life, any idea why you do that? How helpful do you think will that be in the end?

Believe – Because those who belong often start to believe.
How has your acceptance of things you might not like helped you grow as a person?

Become – Because everyone who believes can become someone new.
Which friend(s) comes to mind when you read today’s devotion? Is there any way you can help them (better) prepare for eternity?

Dear God, thanks for providing us with advance information about eternity – even information we might not like to hear. Help it to lead us into truth and into life.  Amen.

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Carey Nieuwhof

Written By

Carey Nieuwhof

Carey is the founding pastor of Connexus Church and has been serving in ministry since 1995. He is passionate about leading people into a relationship with Christ and helping people thrive in life and leadership.

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