The chaos and horrors of the world pile up to make us feel helpless and hopeless. It isn’t true. Every life has impact; every life matters. We must accept responsibility both for how we live and what we look at. The children’s song I used to sing with the children is on my heart this morning:
Proverbs says that in the path of the righteous there is no death. That doesn’t mean that any of us can always do righteously or that no one will die. It means that lives seeking God with passion and perseverance…lives seeking righteousness IN Christ emanate life.
Last evening we looked at these verses from Romans.
Romans 8:24-25New American Standard Bible (NASB)
24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Many believe in Jesus…accept ‘fire insurance’ so to speak. We are willing to believe in the face of what they cannot control…but then set out to control everything else. We have a ‘confident assurance’ for eternity but doubt God’s ability to handle a car repair or a disability or …. you name whatever robs your peace.
We only believe what we live. Peace is possible in the midst of ALL things. I was compelled to write this this morning after reading of a recent martyrdom in the Middle East. The article is painful to read. It reminded me both of the reality of my faith for life…and the impact of lives focused on Jesus. I want to be found faithful. I want to live–and die–to the glory of God. It takes time, focus and intentional living. Let’s do it!
When the eight victims were forced to kneel for their beheadings, all eight prayed loudly.
“Villagers said some were praying in the name of Jesus, others said some were praying the Lord’s Prayer, and others said some of them lifted their heads to commend their spirits to Jesus,” the ministry director explained. “One of the women looked up and seemed to be almost smiling as she said, ‘Jesus!'”
Heartsong Ministries 
Wow. What a testimony to leave here with the rest of us–especially the people who watched such a horrific killing of innocents. I do believe that many (if not all) martyrs experience the enormous presence of God if not actually see the face of God like Stephen and like this woman mentioned in your recap of the article. Thank you so much for sharing. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of our testimony, because we love not our own lives, even to the death. Powerful!
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