Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim BurtAt the age of 24, I was seeking to know God. I grew up with questions about God that I could never answer. I wanted to know in my heart if God existed and, if so, what He wanted or expected from me. At that time, I felt like I had read numerous books and perspectives on God and religion. Honestly, all they did was confuse me and make me wonder if it was possible to know anything about God for sure.Then one day, God arranged for me to bump into an amazingly kind person named Sharon. To my absolute surprise, she turned out to be the one who had answers to my questions. She filled in many of the blanks I had about Jesus and helped me understand what He did for me—that He took the punishment I deserved for my sins upon Himself and offered to exchange them for forgiveness and eternal life with Him. She explained that God made this a free gift I only had to receive personally. I wanted to receive it. I knew I couldn't be good enough to please God on my own! All my efforts up to that point were a disastrous joke! She volunteered to help me pray. She led me in a simple prayer where I sincerely asked Jesus to forgive me of all my sins, wash them away, and become my Lord and Savior.That day, my life changed forever. I got a hold of and started reading the Bible, and it began to come alive to me. I began attending a Bible-teaching church and met many "Sharons"—people who kindly answered the multitude of questions I had and helped me understand more. It didn't take long before I could see God leading me down a new path of transformation and purpose for life. I could understand why Jesus said we needed to be "Born Again." The Bible told me that the Holy Spirit would live within me when I surrendered my life to Jesus and it was like starting my life over only seeing life through God's eyes!The reason Jesus was able to reveal Himself to me was because I was earnestly seeking Him. I began to pray daily that God will help me understand more and more about Him and His ways! Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." But it was also because of Sharon—a light and a person who was able and willing to share the knowledge and love of Jesus with me. I will never, ever be able to repay her for her willingness to take the time with me that day. It was the greatest gift ever given to me and the greatest day of my life.Do you know why this happened in the first place? Because Sharon was being a light. She was different from anyone I had met. Upbeat. Kind. She had a positive attitude. She was confident in who she was. Because she was this way, it led me to ask her, "Sharon, what makes you so happy?" Her answer led us to talking about Jesus and me receiving Him. She left the most incredible impression on me, and it showed me why it is so important to be a light!Jesus taught His disciples, "The harvest is ripe." What did He mean by that? He meant that we would always have people around us who are seeking the truth about God. They are in our midst, whether we know it or not. They're confused, just like I was. Seekers of God want to see who is living it—not just talking about it. And so, they are watching you to see if you are the real deal! Are they seeing Jesus in you? God is using our witness as a tool to help reveal Himself to them. And know this! Everyday you are surrounded by people who have questions about God but are afraid to ask! That is until they meet a "Sharon."God has asked us to be a light to the world. A light can be seen. We must be different enough in our love, kindness, and lifestyle that others notice a difference and see our light. When that moment comes, we need to be ready to plant a seed, water a seed that’s already been planted, or harvest the efforts of others by leading those who are ready to receive Jesus as Savior. It's the greatest gift of love you'll ever give to any person. You might be the one who plants the seed. You might be the one who waters the seed already planted in them. Or you might be the one to lead them to the Lord in prayer! Sharon harvested me! You have people around you who want to know God. So be a light! Pray for God to help you be aware of the lost world around you, and to be the light and love of God to those around you day by day. Develop this heart, and it will change the entire course of your life. And yours!1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) “In your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”In His love,Pastor Tim Burt
If today's Fresh Manna was a blessing to you, please hit the "LIKE" button below! And if you'd like to tell me why, write me at FreshMannaFeedback@gmail.comHelp us reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ!
or Donate Here:How are your donations used? Published by Pastor Tim BurtCopyright© 2025. All rights reservedhttps://TimBurt.org
