I’ve been reading and writing today, two of my favorite things to do on a rainy day. I’m finishing Hearts of Fire, an anthology of Christian victims of persecution published by Voice of the Martyrs. They have not used actual people’s names or settings because they are protecting the identities of Christians in parts of the world where it is literally life-threatening to proclaim Christ. Then I read my Chronological Bible stories for this week, the story of Saul’s betrayal of David and ultimately his death and that of Jonathan, David’s friend. David actually mourned his enemy, Saul, although in the Psalms he expresses fear for his life because Saul was pursuing David out of jealousy.
Philippians 3:13-14 is the passage in Susie Larson’s Blessings for Every Day. Here’s what Paul writes: “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to posses that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one things: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
I’m wondering if I would sacrifice family, friends, my safety, and all that I possess for declaring my faith in Jesus, knowing the result would be persecution, peril, even death. Susie Larson continues: “May you embrace the grace to leave your past in God’s hands. May you have the grit to face down your fears. May you have the gumption to go after your God-given dreams. And may you see God’s glory shining over every part of your life. He gives good gifts to His children.”
Indeed He does, and I pray earnestly that for those enduring persecution around the world and for all lost souls that God will reveal Himself in this day in some way to strengthen the faith of those who seek to do His will. I call them Godincidences. May they rain down on each need today, on this rainy day and always.
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