Did we ever think as young children we would see the horrific atrocities currently raining down on Christians? Put another way, have you in any way prepared yourself to see real time videos of humans burned alive while locked in cages or beheaded, broadcast in your living rooms? I didn’t think so. Neither did I. My grandmothers taught me the importance of loving Jesus. This evil was not a part of any of our talks about faith.
I am amazed at the courage and determination of our brothers and sisters in Christ. They put their lives at risk of being beheaded and burned alive for their belief and refusal to deny Christ. The simple act of going to a place of worship puts them and their families in the direst of situations. They are willing to die with their last words calling out the name of Jesus. They refuse to deny the truth they believe in. The name above all names…Jesus.
Thought For Today:
Bibles often go untouched for weeks, months, perhaps years. Prayer is uttered only on the brink of crisis almost as an after thought. Attending the church of our choice, and there are hundreds, is often the choice between a sports event, sleeping in or some other insignificant thing in relation to honoring our Savior and Lord. I snapped out of malaise when tremendous sorrow and loss came at me from every direction for eleven years. I could not resolve the pain by myself. I invited God to step in and lead me through the valley’s I would travel. He has never let me down. I am so sorry that I didn’t take Him more seriously in my younger years.
We are spoiled in this country. Most of my generation were raised to love God, country and family in that order. It occurs to me that our allegiance and love for all three of those very important aspects of an American life are slowly slipping away. If we don’t fight for it…
All of the things I see make me very sad. So what do we do now? Read our Bible more, pray harder and more often? Attend church because it is an honor not an obligation that must be tolerated? Thank God for the blessing that God means the Sabbath to be? Hold family and friends closer than ever before?
The light is shining on American Christians of all denominations. We are no longer segments, off shoots of this or that. We are One. The body of Christ on this earth. His namesake. Christians. The ones who still have the freedom to worship. The rest of the world is watching to see how we are going to react to what is happening to our brothers and sisters in Christ in less civil parts of the world. They are watching to see how serious we are about this thing called Christianity. What will they find…looking at us? I pray they see the reflection of Jesus in our faces and our lives. That they see us standing in honor of their sacrifice with the will to do no less than they in the face of evil.
Scripture For Today:
2 Timothy 3:12-15
12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.
14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. (NLT)
Prayer For Today:
Hello Father! We know You will not be patient forever. Your word says that when the world least expects it, You will lift Your people up out of the mire and what will happen then is worse than anything this world has seen before. We pray for courage to stand up and be counted. Help us to not take freedom to worship for granted. That we tell of Your great love for those who will believe in Your Son. Finally, that evil will be defeated, once and for all. Forgive us for our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
© 2015 Kathy Ledbetter all rights reserved