Of course, I could be wrong. . . .


I used to play God, but I can’t do that anymore. I used to believe that pagans in far-off countries were lost . . . if they didn’t have the gospel of Jesus preached to them. 
I no longer believe that.  –Billy Graham


The world lost a terrific man recently. William Franklin Graham, Jr., aka Billy, died at age 99. His whole life seemed to be focused around God’s return and reign in the world. His revivals filled football stadiums and auditoriums across the country, bringing hundreds of thousands of people firsthand knowledge of the Love of God. In his death, the world lost a good one, and God lost a faithful earthly spokesperson.

One thing I admire about Billy Graham is that he was always learning, always thinking—and always willing to reexamine his faith beliefs. We can all learn from him in that regard.

When was the last time you reexamined a cherished belief?

When did you last take your Bible down off the shelf and look for yourself to read what the Scriptures really seem to say about something going on in our world? When was the last time you chose to ask questions and think through the answer, rather than accept the assumed authority of someone else?

God gave us brains. It’s not only okay, but expected that we should use them. It’s how our faith grows in the fertile soil of a curious spirit.

Go ahead. When Jesus invites us to ask, seek and knock, allow yourself to trust your heart in its response to God’s Holy Word. It may be uncomfortable at first. And that’s okay.


(This week, meditate on the words of Rev. Dr. Billy Graham.)

Monday “Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion—it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.” Acts 9:1-6

Tuesday “Courage is contagious. When a brave man [or woman] takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.” Acts 7:54-60

Wednesday “When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.” Luke 15:8-10

Thursday “God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he’ll be there.” John 14:1-4

Friday “God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.” Matthew 6:1-4

Saturday “Nothing can bring a real sense of security into the home except true love.” Psalm 68:3

Sunday “We are the Bibles the world is reading; we are the creeds the world is needing; we are the sermons the world is heeding.” Daniel 5:1-12

One day you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. 
I will have gone into the presence of God. –Billy Graham (or maybe D. L. Moody)

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