Monday after the Fourth Sunday of End Time, 11/27/00

Revelation 2: 10 "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten day: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." KJV

In the name of the One Who gives the faithful the crown of life, amen.

I do not mean to take away the honor and glory that belongs to the martyrs, but I sometimes wonder if it isn't more difficult for us living today in western society to remain faithful to Christ Jesus. The reason I wonder is because things are so much more clear when someone is threatening your life for what you belive. But when it is merely ridicule that you will suffer, it isn't as real, as meaningful.

How many times have you denied Jesus? As a child on the playground when someone made fun of Christian, did you bit your tongue and remain silent hoping that no one would press you? At work did you mumble a "not really" when some said, "You don't really believe that do you?" Have you become convinced that you can't speak about Christ in most situations because you shouldn't push you ideas and beliefs on others? I think you get the point.

It is difficult for us to be faithful, and none of us has really been faithful all the time all of our lives. But that is no reason to give up or despair. Turn again to your Savior Who has been so faithful to you. Ask His forgiveness and pledge yourself once again to be faithful whether the test is one of life and death or just a little ridicule. Know for certain that a crown of life waits for you, and boldly speak the truth in love to everyone. Amen.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, as I look at my life I see times when I was not faithful to you. There were times when I was ashamed to be called a Christian. Forgive me for this, and help me to always be faithful to You. Hold the crown of life in front of my eyes so that the trials of faith are nothing by comparison, amen.