June 10, 2014-Tuesday
Do I really have what it takes to be a "Jesus Freak" or am I just fooling myself into thinking I do? Lately I’ve been reading a lot about suffering servants of
Christ. I have been reading Jesus Freaks with my Deeper Studies
youth group and the book of Jeremiah in my quiet time. So many people throughout the ages have stood
for justice, for Truth, for what is morally right, and for Jesus. They have lost their lives to death or lost
the freedom of living as they are held captive by the enemy who didn’t want to
hear the Truth. Granted, I have gone through some persecution before but it wasn't nearly close to what I've read about.
As I prepare to go to Thailand, a nation that isn’t even 1%
Christian, I can’t help but wonder if I will encounter persecution. Sure, Thailand has freedom of
religion but that doesn’t mean anything.
Christianity is becoming less and less popular these days, especially in
America where they also have freedom of religion. Certain people groups, religions, and social movement
organizations have done all they can to make Christianity as unpopular as possible in
the eyes of those that are not believers.
Shoot even one social rights group has Christians arguing among
themselves about whether a certain lifestyle is wrong or not and has fooled
many Christians into believing it is OK when the bible clearly says it is not.
It’s not necessarily the persecution I am
worried about, it’s the possibility of denying Christ that worries me. It’s the possibility of making a life of
security an idol, being safe from harm or disapproval of others. The fact that I have the freedom to choose
life over Jesus, acceptance of people over their disapproval is what scares
me. Am I courageous enough to stand up
to opposition when my life is on the line?
Am I courageous enough to live a life that pleases what God thinks and
not what others think? Would I be able
to handle some of the torture I have read in the Jesus Freaks book that some of these believers have endured? Do I
love Christ enough to surrender my life for Him? Will I stand or will I fail? While I don’t know the answer to these
questions and concerns, I know I can pray about it now and trust that if it
ever comes my way, He will have prepared me for making the right choice.
Lord, if your plan for me includes suffering, give me
strength to bear it as Jeremiah and others have. May I always worship You because of Your love
for me. May I always cling to the Truth
of Your Word, the Truth of who You are, because it is rooted deep in my being. May I surrender my life to You. May a safe, secure life never become an idol
in my life. Because you died a radical
death for me, may I always live radically for You with faith that is
unstoppable regardless of my circumstances on Earth. Continue to give me a heart to weep over sin
and brokenness as Jeremiah did. Break my
heart for what breaks yours. Show me how
to love the way You love, even with my enemies.
I have nothing to fear because He who is in me is greater than he that
is in this world. While I live in this
world may I not be of this world but stand out enough that others see You in me
and glorify Your name. Because you are
faithful and have always been faithful to me, may I always be faithful to
You.
