Devotion: Two weeks ago I came across something that shook me to the core. Have you ever had something so intense happen that you were unable to recover from it? What I saw was very graphic and real. It was a Christian man losing his life for his faith in Jesus. The details of what I saw are too graphic to share here. I’m sharing this because what I felt in that moment was something that took the “peace” that I have in Christ. After a couple of days of pondering what happened and praying for God to reveal to me what I’m to learn, along with Christian council from my brothers-in-the-LORD, I realized what God was saying to me. He put the word, “dross” in my mind and this is what I was brought to – Proverbs 25:4 “
Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel.” (NIV) What I learned in that moment is that my faith in Christ was weak and that Christ was refining my faith (1 Peter 1:7) through an uncomfortable means. A lot of thoughts and emotions have gone through my mind since this event, one of which I will share. I have a Christian Flag that I’ve had for some time now and I have the perfect flag pole to put it on in my front yard. If you know where I live, I live in a fairly populated neighborhood, so the flag will get lots of attention. However, the flag still remains in packaging it came in. A lotta good it does sitting in plastic huh?!!! I’ve been wrestling with putting that icon of my faith in my front yard for many reasons. “What if my neighbors see me not acting like a Christian should?” “What if they think that my having that flag on the pole is tied to my salvation?” “What if people think that I’m one of those Christians that’s fundamentally against everything non-Christian?” and “What if by my having that flag in my front yard, I am inadvertently putting a target of hate on my family and my self?” There’s more, but those are the main issues running around in my head. At this point you are wondering if I’m getting any counseling or taking any medications for my condition. I have found a world renowned Counselor who’s given me the prescription for my disease. His diagnosis, “
O you of little faith!” Luke 12:28 It’s not by coincidence that I have that flag and it’s not by coincidence that I have my faith, so why would I withhold either from my neighbors? BTW, I understand that having a flag with a cross on it doesn’t make me a Christian – had to clear any possible thought of false salvation. What are you afraid of? More specifically, what shakes your faith to the core where you doubt God’s goodness and provision? It took me witnessing second hand, someone losing their life for their faith in Christ. Jesus tells me (and all believers in Him), “
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV) I’ve learned that peace isn’t comfort from the issues of the world, but rather it’s found only in Jesus Christ. I will proudly be flying this flag that symbolizes Christ’s victory over the grave because that’s really what scares all of us in the end. “
O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55 (ESV)
Prayer Focus: Kids and Parents pray for your school leaders, church leaders and co-workers.
If you have been following the
Lenten Fasting Calendar, please consider
this additional resource to spend good family time with each other tonight to share faith lessons about God rather than waisting your time playing Video Games (today’s fasting item).
coffeetalkroasters.com 