​Tuesday’s Truth is a free weekly devotional shared by Rev. Gary Mimbs
 
Keep It Awake?
 
          I got a new phone and transferred all of my old apps to the new phone. I also downloaded some new apps. I got a notice from the phone that it was putting to sleep some apps that I have not used enough to keep them active. One of the apps was a Bible app that I had transferred from my old phone. It was shocking to see that I had not used the Bible app enough to keep it “awake” and active.
          The reason was that I had started using the new Bible app that I had downloaded. But still I didn’t like the thought that the phone recognized that I had not used this Bible app enough for it to stay vital. There was no notification from my gaming apps or from my sports apps – they were all very active. But in the phone’s view, my Bible app had been neglected and was going to be made inactive.
          How does that translate to the real world? What are the biggest priorities in our world? Do we spend more time gaming, checking on sports teams, shopping online, chatting, following Facebook, twitter, Instagram than we do reading the Word of God? Have we become so entertained that the devil has stolen our passion for the things of God? Has the devil so changed our priority to love the Lord our God with ALL of our heart, mind and soul that we now love the things of the world more? I am asking me as much as I am asking you.
          Jesus anticipated this when He said in Matthew 6:33 when he said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”.  A Christian song writer, singer Josiah Queen captures this idea in his song, “Dusty Bibles” The phrase "we got dust on our Bibles, brand new iPhones" is a lyric from the song "Dusty Bibles" This line reflects a sentiment about how people often neglect their spiritual lives (symbolized by dusty Bibles) while being preoccupied with modern technology (represented by brand new iPhones). The song explores themes of distraction and the struggle to maintain meaningful connections in a fast-paced, technology-driven world.
          Have we become so distracted by the technology of the world that we have neglected and forgotten the simple truths from God’s Word. Have we “put to sleep” by lack of use of the most important writings and principles ever written (The Bible)? This is God’s Holy Word. His love letter and instruction guide to navigate life and make it to Heaven one day. We need to AWAKEN our passion and desire for the things of God FIRST before it is too late and we are put to sleep spiritually. In love with Jesus – Gary Mimbs

Tuesday’s Truth is a free weekly devotional shared by Rev. Gary Mimbs

 Share Jesus By Any Means That You Can           

Our church has a very good security system including a ring doorbell at our church office. It is there to allow the secretary to see who is at the door and allow her to communicate with them without letting them in if necessary. The alarm sends a notice to my phone and hers when someone is at the door.       

I was home one night when a pretty powerful rainstorm hit town. I got a notice on my phone that someone was at the door of the church office. I looked on the phone and saw a young man who had obviously got caught in the storm and was seeking shelter on the church front porch. I startled him by asking through the alarm if he was okay. He said that he was just trying to wait out the storm.         

He asked me if I was going to call the cops on him. I advised him that he had not done anything wrong and that he was more than welcome to stay on the porch until the rain passed by. We began to talk, and he told me that he had drank a few beers after work and was feeling buzzed. I told him that I didn’t judge him and that as long as he didn’t drink one on the church porch he was welcome to stay.         

As we talked, he began to reveal how he had been hurt at another church and he had tried to avoid church since then. He had been in jail a few times and he said that God really has a sense of humor. He told me that as he bought his beer that day, he had felt convicted and that he really wanted to quit drinking. Then as he is walking down the road the sudden summer rainstorm comes up and the only place to stay dry was on the porch of a church. Now here he is on the porch of a church talking to a preacher through a ring doorbell camera.         

As we talked, he sobered up pretty quick and we had a serious conversation about God’s love for him. He had a very strong Bible knowledge and could quote several scriptures. I told him that God loved him enough to put him on a church porch during a storm. I also told him that the Holy Spirit had sobered him up and awakened His spirit that was within him. I prayed for him, and he promised to come back to church sometimes since I had not judged him, condemned him, or called the cops on him. He left as the storm ended and I felt like God had used me to try and help this young man.         

About 5 minutes later I got notified again that someone was at the church office door. I looked and it was the young man back and this time he had brought a friend that he found down the street. He introduced his friend and then told his friend that I was someone that he could trust and talk to. I would end up witnessing to and counseling with this friend for about 5 minutes. I prayed with both of them and they left.       

I wonder if in I Corinthians 9:20 when Paul said that “…I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some” he had witnessing to someone through a ring doorbell camera in mind? Hey – use whatever it takes to tell people about Jesus.  In love with Jesus – Gary Mimbs ​

Say Anything To Get Out Of  Jail / Hell

In my decades of ministry, I have visited my share of people in jail. I had a prison ministry for over 6 years. It is amazing what jail will do to get some people’s attention. That addict that was cursing and out of control will tell you how much they have been praying and reading the Bible since they got locked up. Others will basically say anything they think that you want to hear to help you get them out of jail.

I have seen a few incarcerated people be sincere and the experience turned their life around and they started living for Jesus. That is why I take every opportunity to minister to and witness to those who are locked up. I can’t tell you who is genuinely seeking the Lord or who is just playing the game to get freedom. That is why I treat each one as an opportunity to introduce (Or reintroduce) them to Jesus who can set them free - not only from physical jail but the bondage that sin brings with it.

In thinking about this I concur that not only will people say anything to get out of jail - but they will also say anything to get out of trouble. I have seen people when they were in trouble promise God that they would never miss a Sunday of church or never do bad things again if God would just get them out of the situation that they were in. When God does His part, pretty soon the person starts to backpedal on the promises that they made while in a crisis.

People will also say anything to stay out of Hell. You ask someone about their relationship with Jesus, and they will tell you that they are a good moral person. They will list all of the good things that they do and the bad things that they don’t do. They will give you their spiritual resume. The problem is that it takes a RELATIONSHIP not a RESUME to get to Heaven.

You can say whatever you want but if you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior then you aren’t getting into Heaven. I have met many silver-tongued salesmen who talk you into almost anything. But no one will be slick enough to talk God into letting them into His heaven when you are not saved. You may fool others down here and even fool yourself - but you will NOT fool God.

The best thing is to make sure that your relationship with Jesus is solid and up to date. The Bible tells us that we can know that we know that everything is good between us and Jesus. So instead of trying to talk your way out of a jam - talk to Jesus BEFORE the jam comes up and you may avoid the jam all together.
In love with Jesus - Gary Mimbs ​