Tuesday – Stand Firm Then!!
Focus passage: Hebrews 10:32-39
Read: Matthew 10:16-39; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Ephesians 6:13
We’ve all heard about our brothers and sisters in Christ around the globe who suffer and are persecuted because they are Christians. There are the Chinese who are sometimes imprisoned and tortured for teaching the gospel. I read about a preacher in India who goes from village to village sharing the Good News. In between, he hides and sleeps in ditches along the way to avoid angry mobs sent by Hindu medicine men. Iraqi and Afghani Christians live in fear for their lives because militants have attacked several churches and killed those worshipping there. Yet, in the face of this kind of danger, we do not read about these people ever denying Christ. They stand for the Lord and they don’t shrink back. How do they have the courage to do this? Their faith and confidence are strong. They hold firmly to the hope of the promises of God and to Christ himself.
What about us? We’re obviously not persecuted like these Christians, yet we waver so easily. Instead of being bold, sometimes I find myself doing what I can to remain comfortable and to avoid conflict. I might not be “shrinking back,” but I’m certainly not allowing myself to be exposed in those times. The focus passage ought to be an encouragement to us to not throw away our confidence in the Lord and to stand our ground.
1. Have you ever had the opportunity to stand your ground in the face suffering or persecution? Have you stood side by side with someone else?
2. If you have, thank God for the strength. If not, what caused you to “shrink back”?
3. If God is faithful (and He is) and won’t allow you to be in a situation beyond what you can bear with His help (and he won’t), why do you lose your confidence?
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