Last week was a tough week.
There
It’s been all over the news that 21 Coptic Christian men were murdered by ISIS. I heard something today that the media doesn’t report: these Christians had been terrorized to recant their faith in Jesus and join Islam before they were slaughtered. They refused and stood strong in their allegiance to Jesus and even sang hymns as they met their deaths. Just like in the “old days.”
Here
The latest faith attack in this country came a few days ago when a judge in Washington State ruled that a florist from theTri-Cities would be losing her business, her home and her life savings in a judgment against her. Why? Because her Christian conscience would not allow her to participate in a gay wedding by making the flowers for it. Even though she had served these customers well in the past. She is 65 years old. How will she live now?
Forever Eyes
More and more, persecution of Christian believers is rising. It is even gaining momentum in the US. Toward the end of the week, my anger was gaining momentum, as well.
Today I was reminded that we still serve a mighty God. Jesus went through trials before His death as a Lamb. His eyes were set on the accomplishment for eternity that His death and resurrection would ensure.
How else could a group of men go to their deaths singing?
God’s ways are not our ways.
As events snowball in this world, we must keep our eyes on Jesus. Only through Him can calmness reign in our spirits when we see injustices and atrocities. Jesus calls each of us to allow His light to shine through us in any way that will further His Kingdom. It may not look very inviting. We may not understand the why of it. We may not be able to see the end result.
But God knows.
He will aid and nurture us through every difficulty, every tragedy, if we will but allow Him to guide, direct, and sustain us. Just as He did for the children in Iraq, the Coptic Christian men, and Steven in the first century.
Forever eyes.
To God be the glory.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen” Jude: 24,25.
Thank you Linda for timely words and thoughts. How very tragic were the death of those men. How extremely courageous they were!