Will I Be Faithful?

After reading The Insanity of God and hearing the incredible life-changing stories of people around the world living through persecution for their faith in Christ, while inspired, I couldn’t help but feel my life seemed small in comparison. None of us can understand why we have been given the life we have. What we can understand is that God is in control and He knows everything. We can rest in this fact. The question for us is, will we be faithful with the one life he has given us?

As I read this book, I kept hearing this question asked, “Have you told your story?” A simple, yet profound question I ask myself — have I told my story? Am I telling my story? To not do so just seems wrong, especially, with the freedom we have been given to share the gospel story. But are we doing that?

Read this powerful quote from the author — “I couldn’t find the truth I was searching for in the simple, direct responses to my precisely-worded questions. The wisdom, the guidance, and the insights had come beautifully gift-wrapped in layers of narrative and personal stories that believers had shared with me before I ever asked my questions.” It was their stories that changed lives — Jesus’ story alive in each person sharing their story of how He changed their life!

Revelation 2:10 — “ Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”

 “To be faithful, even to the point of death…”

I think I am just going to leave it at that and try to let that soak into my heart this morning. It’s been so easy for us Americans — so easy that many people walk away from the faith because a brother offended them; somebody hurt their little feelings. When I think of the small ways we get tripped up, I’m ashamed. I find myself wondering after reading this book, maybe the devil has found the best way to keep the gospel from spreading … maybe our American way of life is just the recipe for the silent implosion of our faith. We’ve simply silenced ourselves!

“To be faithful, even to the point of death….” I wonder if we would?

Just Jesus,

Sheri Langley