{"id":6107,"date":"2022-07-03T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-03T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shop.honestreflections.net\/?p=6107"},"modified":"2022-06-01T09:37:19","modified_gmt":"2022-06-01T14:37:19","slug":"defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.honestreflections.net\/index.php\/2022\/07\/03\/defense\/","title":{"rendered":"DEFENSE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

2 minute read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Daily Reading:<\/strong> 2 Kings 22:3-23:30 ESV<\/a>, Acts 21:37-22:16 ESV<\/a>, Psalm 1:1-6 ESV<\/a>, Proverbs 18:11-12 ESV<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daily Verse: <\/strong>\u201cBrothers and fathers, hear the defense<\/em> that I now make before you.\u201d (Acts 22:1 ESV<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

APOLGIA (627): <\/strong>\u201cThis does not mean saying, \u201cI’m sorry, I apologize.\u201d The root means to give a cogent explanation for one\u2019s beliefs.\u00a0 The word means\u201d to talk one\u2019s self off from\u201d i.e. to explain one\u2019s basis for operation, explain the basis upon which and from which one makes his decisions.\u00a0 Making a defense is not to escape punishment nor trial but to explain forcefully and completely why one does what he does.\u201d[I]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cogent Explanation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul, speaking to the crowd, shares his faith journey with them.  He doesn\u2019t talk about Peter\u2019s or John\u2019s story; Paul tells his.  By doing so, Paul explains to the crowd his actions and why his life changed dramatically.  One day Paul killed Christ-followers, the next day, he became one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

D\u00e9fense means telling others why you do what you do.  For instance, when someone asks me why I follow Jesus, I tell them about my faith journey.  I talk about growing up in the church, turning my back on God, experiencing hell on earth, and then finding my way back to Him as an adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell your story.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than likely, your relationship with Jesus differs from mine.  We may share similarities, like growing up in church, but we each uniquely connect to God.  Some people feel most connected to God through music, others through nature, or perhaps writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharing with others about Jesus answers three questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n