Martyrs

In Acts 7, we see the first Christian martyr, Stephen. Stephen literally gave his life to leverage the Gospel. He had every intention of spreading the good news of Jesus to anyone who would listen, and even those who didn't want to hear. And it cost him his life. Stephen was stoned to death for his faith. Even as he was about to take his last breath, he prayed out loud saying "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:60). He loved these people so much and wanted to see their salvation so badly that he prayed for them as he took his last breath.

After Stephen is brutally murdered, the apostles scatter the lands to continue to preach the Gospel. Seriously? One of their best friends has been stoned to death, and they immediately keep preaching.

How do I get faith like that? Why is it so hard for me to share my faith, when I don't even risk persecution? It's like a constant let down. I know these people will go to Hell if they don't believe Jesus, so why aren't I more eager to spend every moment trying to tell them about the Lord?

What it comes down to is this: I am a sinner. I feel guilty, like a B team Christian. But before I let those negative thoughts take over, I have to remember that Satan is the one in charge of them! He is doing anything he can to make me feel guilty and ashamed. I just need to keep praying every time I feel down. The power of prayer plus scripture memorization can seriously affect my relationship with Jesus!

I experience multiple opportunities a day to share my faith, and show others the love of Jesus through the way I live my life. I can't save people, that's not my job. My job is to tell them about Jesus, and show them his love through the way I live my life. Salvation belongs to the Lord. I just have to open the door for them to hear, and give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to speak to them.

The Lord is coming back, and it's going to be sooner than we think. I want to make sure everyone I know is ready.

Blessed Assurance

"Blessed Assurance! Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!"

Sometimes the older hymns, though sounding outdated, offer the most beautiful essence of worship. Oh, what it would be like for this to be "my song," actually "praising my Savior all the day long." But here I am, crawling into bed to devote the last few minutes of my day to structured reading and prayer. It stings to read that. All day long I've been surrounded by true beauty, grace, and overwhelming love from my Savior, and how many times did I stop and thank Him?

I've been reading through 1st John this week, and I keep feeling so convicted of my sins. How many times daily do I scorn a coworker or friend? 1 John clearly states how sinful these simple thoughts and words can be (1:9, 1:11, 3:12). Sins are all equal in God's eyes, so who am I to mentally bash someone else when my list of bad deeds is a mile long?

Luckily, I have a great high priest who was beaten for me, who bled for me, who gave up every last breath so that I wouldn't be held accountable for my actions. He Himself absorbed the wrath of our sins (2:2). We can have assurance that if we believe in God, and live our lives for Him, not ourselves, that we will have a new life in Heaven (5:11)!

This should make me shout for joy every hour of the day. This should make me weep with thankfulness at every mention of His death. But, I am a sinner. I was born a sinner, but when I die a sinner, I will have been saved by grace.

I go to sleep tonight with the urgency to challenge myself to increase the amount I pray a day tenfold. I yearn to be able to recite memorized scripture. I desire to live my life as a product of reckless love and forgiveness. For how will the others know if they do not hear (Romans 10:14)?