Category: Perseverance

  • Blooming in the desert

    This lovely desert flower is a Mariposa lily (Calochortus bruneaunis ) – sometimes called a sagebrush or desert lily. It comes in a variety of colors from white through to brilliant purple, like this specimen I shot back around the summer of 2001. I confess the picture is cropped because I took it from too far away.

    The Mariposa thrives in arid, desert-like places where most plants could simply not survive. It truly blooms where others fail to even grow.

    In our Christian life, we can often be placed in situations similar to that. We can face ridicule, hostility, outright persecution, even the stripping of our possessions, jail time or in some cases death. Jail time and death are not common in the West (yet), they are a reality for our brothers and sisters around the world.

    According to an article in America Magazine, “More Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in all previous centuries combined, according to David B. Barrett and Todd M. Johnson, two of the world’s leading religious demographers.”

    Gordon-Conwell’s Center for the Study of Global Christianity estimates that 1 million Christians were killed between 2001 and 2010, and about 900,000 were killed from 2011 to 2020.

    It’s a reality out there, my friends. Our brothers and sisters are being killed for their faith. It shouldn’t surprise us; it’s been happening since the days of Saul of Tarsus. Persecution began a few years after the death of Jesus and has continued since.

    Jesus told us it would happen.

    “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. But this happened to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘They hated Me without cause.’ John 15:18-25 ESV

    What can we do in the interim?

    We can pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ and for those who oppress them. We can pray for those in power in our nation to come to faith.

    We continue to gather together as long as we can. We gain strength from one another. Our brothers and sisters in oppressed countries meet underground.

    We read, study and memorize our Bibles. We need to know what we believe and why. We need to be prepared in case there are no Bibles available someday.

    We live our lives daily as Christ called us to do. We stand as lights on a hill, pointing others to the love of Jesus.

    We trust God. He has it all under control and will use every hard thing that comes to pass for the good of those who love Him.

    The mariposa lily grows and blooms in dark, hostile environments. How much so can we shine in a dark and hurting world?

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    SUMMARY

    The Mariposa lily thrives in arid, hostile ground where most plants cannot survive. Christians are called to do the same. Persecution is real, it is global, and Jesus told us plainly it would come. The question is not whether we will face a hostile world, but how we will stand in it.

    KEYPOINTS

    More Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in all previous centuries combined, and an estimated 1.9 million have been killed for their faith between 2001 and 2020 

    Jesus warned His followers directly: the world hated Him first, and it will hate them too — persecution is not a surprise but a promise 

    While brothers and sisters around the world face jail and death, believers everywhere can pray, gather, know their Bibles, live as lights, and trust God with every hard thing that comes

    Tribulation Produces Perseverance

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    On Trial for your life – what’s your defense?

  • Rebound Stronger – How trials build unshakeable faith

    girl on a trampoline high in the air - rebound stronger

    Our granddaughters have a trampoline in the backyard. They and their friends are quite adept at leaps, spins, rolls and general acrobatics. Sometimes, I have to look away because I envision one of them coming off and breaking a bone or two or going right through the fabric.

    I did some quick research on the physics of trampolines and came across this: “A trampoline works by temporarily storing energy. As you land, your downward force stretches the tightly woven mat and the springs around its edge. The deeper the mat bends, the more elastic potential energy is stored. When the springs recoil, that stored energy is released upward, pushing against you with a force that can exceed your body weight. In effect, the very force that pulls you downward becomes the source of your lift. The harder and more completely you press into the trampoline, the greater the potential for an upward rebound—provided your timing and balance allow that energy to be directed efficiently into the next jump.”

    The harder you apply downward pressure, the further upward you go. There is a bit of a spiritual principle here, although not exactly the same. God allows us to undergo trials and tribulations. It is in those dark places where our faith is tested that our faith grows the most.

    An untested faith is simply a hope. Faith that comes through again and again is strengthened. In essence, we bounce up higher and higher. We rebound from the trials strengthened and more Christ like.

    Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance. And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  James 1:2-4

    Dark times are a part of life in a sin-filled and fallen world. Even Christians have them. In fact Christians may face even harder times because the world hates our Lord. Once we get to glory, that won’t be an issue, but in the meantime we persevere.

    We take the pressure, strengthened by God and rebound to a stronger faith. Paul understood that truth.

    I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:10-13

    We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

    So next time it feels too much, remember Jesus has your back. He goes ahead of you and walks beside. Hold fast and bounce back stronger.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

    Be blessed,

    Kevin

    Seeing Jesus more clearly each day

    SUMMARY

    Watching my granddaughters flip and spin on that trampoline, I started thinking about how the harder they press down, the higher they fly. That same principle shows up in the Christian life: the trials that press us down are what God uses to build a faith that rebounds stronger than before.

    TAKEAWAY

    Trampolines store energy through downward pressure and release it as upward lift

    James 1:2-4 shows that tested faith produces perseverance, not just endurance

    Paul’s example in Philippians and 2 Corinthians proves we’re pressed but never crushed

    Tribulation Produces Perseverance

    Pressed but still standing

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