Boldly Living Our Faith

"Today's Devotion" For February 24, 2005

Read: Jeremiah 1:4-8
I Timothy 4:1-16

BOLDLY LIVING OUR FAITH

"Do not say, 'I am a youth,' for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord." (Jer. 1:7, 8)

Living in the "land of the free and the home of the brave" is supposed to mean that people are free to worship as they please, believe in God or not, and speak their minds concerning religion and their beliefs. Yet, in recent years, Christians have come under increasing scrutiny for what they believe and how they live. In a recent case in Philadelphia, a Christian group was arrested and indicted for speaking out and protesting against homosexual marriages. The judge threw the case out of court, declaring that the Ku Klux Klan can march all over the country, the Nazis can march in Skokie, but Christians aren't allowed to protest what they believe is behavior contrary to God's Word.

It's important for us to realize that this isn't a new phenomenon. The prophet Jeremiah experienced the same challenge in his day. People weren't happy with what he had to say and he suffered greatly for his faithfulness to God's Will. Elisha felt terribly alone in Israel, assuming that there wasn't anyone left who trusted in God, until God reminded him that He had set aside faithful people to Himself in Israel and then, through Elisha, brought His mighty power to bear on the prophets of Baal. Throughout the Old Testament we see account after account of God's people, even the prophets, suffering for what they believed. That same persecution occurred for Jesus, the Apostles, and the Early Church, as is so clearly described in the Revelation of St. John. As long as there's Sin in the world (which means until the Judgment Day), God's people will suffer for what they believe. Jesus' own words in the Sermon on the Mount clearly point to this reality when He says, "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Mt. 5, 11, 12).

Living a Christian life is fraught with difficulties. We don't leave God at church, nor do we leave Him at home. Unlike society's idea that God and religion don't belong in the public sphere, Christians believe and understand that their lives encompass all they are in Jesus Christ. As God's redeemed children, we live life with the understanding that we take Jesus with us everywhere we go and include Him in everything we do and say. He is the One who guides our plans and gives us purpose in our lives, whether at home, in church, at work, at school, at leisure, in politics, or wherever He might lead us to be witness of God's grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Christ. God's encouragement to Jeremiah (Jer. 1) and His encouragement to Timothy through the Apostle Paul (I Tim. 4) is also for our benefit as the people of God in this time and place in history.

We are redeemed from the power of Sin, Death, and Satan by Jesus Christ. We have the hope and sure promise of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God by faith in Jesus, no matter what happens to us in this world. We are held in the very palm of God's hand and have the power of His Word and Spirit living in us in Holy Baptism each moment of our lives so that we can boldly live our faith in any and all circumstances of life. We take courage and have peace and joy in God's promise to be with us, to support us in our lives of faith, and to shield us from every snare that the Evil One would put up to take us away from God's love in Christ. In Jesus, we are strengthened each day to boldly live as the people of God, sharing the Word boldly and faithfully so that others might hear and believe, and be saved.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your marvelous patience with me. So often I'm reluctant to speak up for the truth of Your Word and for what's good and right in Your eyes. I have too often compromised my living and speaking with the world's standards so that I might "fit in" better with everyone else. Forgive me for such unfaithfulness to You. Send Your Spirit upon me in abundant measure each and every day, that I might speak and live boldly for Jesus and be a strong and faithful witness so that others might hear and believe. In Jesus' precious and most holy name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.