“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalms 27:1 (NIV).
Anyone who has travelled to the Far East will quickly notice how most people there are never shy of revealing their faith. In a hotel I was once booked in while in Thailand the entrance was lit with Buddhist idols that were fed and worshiped every morning. Hindus everywhere love to put up portraits of their gods in their shops which they ask for blessings. So often shrines are tucked somewhere in their shops encircled with bright incense.
The unabashed mix of faith and public life seems to strike many Christians as odd. For example, how often have we found believers clearly pointing out whom they believe and trust for success in their business or office life? The faith of most believers is kept as a secret that even the Bible, the book which is a source of their inspiration, is kept far out of view. A number when asked to pray will not dare pray in the name of Jesus Christ because, well, they might upset someone!
For this we must then wonder why many Christians are exceedingly reserved in revealing their faith! We know there are many African ancestor worshippers whose compounds are pictured with huge shrines. Unless they have chosen to be secular, Jews are very open with their faith and the more orthodox ones wear a cap called Kippah.
The scriptures do ask, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14). When Christians are shy or rather apologetic of sharing their faith, in open spaces, preferring to keep it at arm’s length in their work, it is rather unfortunate, especially given its power to bless as many.
While outward symbols do not add anything to one’s faith they in themselves are a sign of confidence to the world as to what one believes. Perhaps Christians too, other then keeping their Bibles hidden somewhere, or crosses shrouded and only to be found locked in churches, may rise, too, and feel free to show to the world what they believe, just as many other faiths do anyway.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God in heaven, thank you for saving me through your son Jesus Christ and may I go out today to gladly share they joy of salvation.
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16/04/2024 - 17/04/2024 All day“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8)
Have you had a moment when you felt you were out of time? It is “too late” is perhaps what went through Martha and Mary when life slipped out of their brother Lazarus. But when news got to Jesus he did not drop whatever he was doing to rush to their rescue. “So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days” (John 11:7). Later he decided to go and, “On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days” (vv 17).
Yet in spite of this delay Jesus found Martha’s faith apparently not shaken. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (vv 21-22).
Meanwhile Mary who had stayed in the house on hearing of his arrival came out wondering if there was any hope. “When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (verse 32). She felt it is too late.But it was not too late. “Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (vv 40). Thus, “When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go” (vv 43-44).
If you believe in the Almighty God, then there is nothing like too late! Perhaps you too have a matter that has not only been ailing for a while but by all physical appearance is dead. Well, if you believe, it is not too late. It was against reality and quite laughable to think that a man who had been dead for four days could be restored to life. Well, the Lord did it. What more is it with you that the Lord can’t restore to life?
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth. you who raised Lazarus from the dead even after four days of being in the tomb, I bring to you all my affairs even that which appears dead, that you restore it to life, for nothing is too late with you, because of the faith have in your son, Lord Jesus
