When we have a hero or we look up to someone, often times, we find inspiration in the way that they live, the choices they make. Something about their character inspires us to be better people, braver, to love more, to extend grace, to do justice, and so much more. Often times when I have been let down within the Christian community I've been given the excuse "I am just a person". While that is true, I pray that we would become a people with greater character. People that can be depended upon. People that inspire the world around us.
I was asked recently who my heroes were. They all had a common thread, Courage. They didn't back down in the face of adversity. They wouldn't be shut up. They stood for something. They too were just people, but they were people that exhibited great character. Truly, they inspire me!
Amy Carmichael was ostracized from the christian community. She was looked at as a rebellious woman. She had a fiery spirit. God used that. When women were riding horses side saddle with their hair pulled tightly back, she was the kind that let her hair down and road bare back. She never answered to her missions board. She found their request unspiritual and draining. She lived counter culturally in India. She saved and hid little children who were being used in temple prostitution. She risked her life to live for Jesus. She actively lived out her faith. In her time many said that she was unruly and questioned her antics. Yet her legacy lives on as a courageous woman of God.
Corrie Ten Boom was faced with a choice to hide Jews in her home, or turn away as they were led off to concentration camps to be killed. The decision she and her family made landed them in prison and cost both her sister and elderly father their lives.Yet she still said yes! Use me God! She decided to stand up against injustice. Because of her obedience she went on to minister to the German people after the war and became an example for christians everywhere.
The apostle Paul tells us to follow him as he follows Christ. While we are certainly not suppose make people idols in our lives, we can, and should have examples of people who have gone before us following the Lord Jesus Christ with All of their HEARTS and Souls.
Sweet Bride of Christ, our time here on the earth is short. This is not the time to blur the lines. We are living in a time when evil is called good, and good is called evil. It is not the time to grow weak or shrink back. We need to ask God for boldness, courage, and strength. We need to ask God to make us people with great character. The bible teaches that many will fall away in the last days, becoming lovers of self, following teachings that their itching ears want to hear. We have been given a task here on the earth. We have been chosen to share the Gospel near and far so that people might be saved! I am praying for the precious bride of Christ to stand up,arise, awaken to be people with great character, to be ministers of Grace and truth, and to Shine bright in this dark world.
Without sharing to in-depth I have been grieved more times than I would like to admit by the choices I am seeing the church make. Choices not to live biblically. Choices not to hold unrepentant church members to biblical standards. A refusal to acknowledge the depth of hurt that this type of sin causes the bride. It is a sad day when the world has laws to protect victims from abuse and yet the church chooses to turn their heads... If you are offended by this or think this lacks grace I ask you to allow the Holy Spirit to search and show you if there is any truth to this.
May we say YES to the Lord. May we learn obedience, leaning heavily upon His abounding Grace when we fall. We will never be perfect church but may we allow the potter to mold us into beautiful vessels of His truth and Grace.
When we decide to follow Jesus instead of the crowd, we find that He leads us into the darkest places providing an opportunity for us to shine brightly for Him.
