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Have you taken your Daily Step
Sometimes the step may be a long one, a leap even, however, life is still taken "One step at a time!"
Add one Godly thought a day and in a year you will have taken 365 steps closer to Him!
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Saturday, March 24, 2007
"Taking the Bullet"
5:11 "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me."
5:12 "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Matthew 5:11-12 NAS
From those tough years of fifth and sixth grade I can still remember the school-yard bullies and their taunts about my long feet or skinny arms or some other difference between us. Most of fifth grade was spent by myself on the playground with no friends. Near the end of that year something changed. I found a friend or rather he found me.
Not only was he my friend, but he helped to bring together a number of us which were the "underdogs" of school. He helped us, unknowingly for the most part, stand up and do more than just "hide out." Quietly he built up and gave real friendship. We would all defend each other, usually in quiet ways. To this day I would gladly take an insult for one of these men and women. They, though I have not seen many of them for years were something special. Jesus is such a friend and I pray that we will rise to His need as we are called to do.
There are people called Christian Apologetics that will go to great lengths to defend Jesus and the Faith. An "apologetic" is a defender of something. It does not mean saying you are sorry. It does not mean loosing you cool. It is someone who quietly and passionately, with wisdom and love explains, defends, teaches about Jesus and our faith. He or she will use everything at there disposal to do this incredible ministry.
On the University of Texas campus it was a guy named Cliff. He vary rarely lost his cool and had a good reply for most of the questions raised. I even heard him say the phrase "I don't know either." Sometimes he took so real hits against the Lord, all with patience, grace and calm. I cannot help but believe that he understood the words above and lived them to the fullest. Remember, you are taking a shot not really aimed at you, but at Jesus. "Take one for Jesus" could have been the martyrs cry.
Jesus implies another blessing in this passage when He says "for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." When you defend the Jesus and the Faith, you take a stand beside Moses and Abraham, Peter and Paul and all those who have taken up the name of the Lord!
Copyright © 2007
Points to Ponder
1) Who would you stand up and say something good for?
2) I pray that you know people that would do so for you. If not, look to Jesus, he is our defender against our adversaries.
3) Take care in your defense of the faith and do not go where angels fear to tread. Make sure you are taking up the cross He gives you and not one you cannot handle.
4) If Jesus cannot be taken down fairly the world will lie and cheat and try to ruin His reputation, yours too if they can. Rely on Jesus for strength and comfort.
5) These words give new meaning to "All for Jesus" do they not?
"Jesus, give me the strength to be Your child. Build up in me the fruit of the spirit: *love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self-control that I may in truth and mercy share my faith in You with others. Lord, help me to know my faith that I may share of it with others. Amen."
*Galatians 5:22-23
Copyright © 2007
Email Pastor Leslie