On this 236th birthday of the United States of America, a country that was founded by a devout people in search of freedom of faith and religion, not freedom from religion, I ponder the question:
Will those who come behind us find us faithful?
"32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[a] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
This great country is now in a period that I liken to the days of the Judges in ancient Israel.
Ruled by godless people pleasers who pay more attention to polls and people rather than God Almighty, idolatry and immotrality abounds, the blood of the innocents who are being slaughtered daily by the thousands cries out from the ground...
I wonder and ask the Lord , "How long can you allow this?"
We are the remnant, there is a generation arising behind us, and we must be found faithful. There is no room for pragmatism, no gray areas. There is no more time for shrinking back, shirking our duties as disciples, no more than Esther could at that defining moment in her life.
We are responsible to those behind us, we must be found faithful. There is a cost, the right choices and decisions, large and small, must be made, there is no room for staying in a complacent comfort zone...the younger and less mature are watching us, words and deeds making a mark one way or another.
I don't know what lies ahead, only our Father does, but this I know; He is looking for the faithful, who will raise up more faithful behind them.
Beloved, let us choose wisely, and be found faithful...it is our sacred charge.
Will those who come behind us find us faithful?
"32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[a] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Heb. 11:32-12:2
This great country is now in a period that I liken to the days of the Judges in ancient Israel.
Ruled by godless people pleasers who pay more attention to polls and people rather than God Almighty, idolatry and immotrality abounds, the blood of the innocents who are being slaughtered daily by the thousands cries out from the ground...
I wonder and ask the Lord , "How long can you allow this?"
We are the remnant, there is a generation arising behind us, and we must be found faithful. There is no room for pragmatism, no gray areas. There is no more time for shrinking back, shirking our duties as disciples, no more than Esther could at that defining moment in her life.
We are responsible to those behind us, we must be found faithful. There is a cost, the right choices and decisions, large and small, must be made, there is no room for staying in a complacent comfort zone...the younger and less mature are watching us, words and deeds making a mark one way or another.
I don't know what lies ahead, only our Father does, but this I know; He is looking for the faithful, who will raise up more faithful behind them.
Beloved, let us choose wisely, and be found faithful...it is our sacred charge.
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