"And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace" - Romans 11:4-5 (NIV).
There is a common false belief to imagine Christians or more specifically believers and followers of Christ as being of a marjority faith. Of course we have had of Christian nations where it is assumed Christ followers are in the marjority. Much as this might sound flattering the reality is followers of Christ have and will always be a minority group.
This was clearly evident at the start of the early church when followers of Christ were restricted to their houses from where they fellowshiped. Following Apostle Paul's conversion and the spread of Christianity among the Gentiles the numbers of Jesus followers grew but not to a point of being in the marjority. Christians were intensily persecuted by the Romans until 312 when Emperor Constantine decided to embrace the faith and turn it into a state religion.
Following that it has been common to find nations where Christianity is paraded as a state religion- such as the Anglican church headed by the monarch of England. However, the truth is when it comes to following Christ in obedience of his commands the numbers are just not there.
These days it is increasingly becoming more so in certain "Christian nations" with legislation making it harder to practice the Christian faith based on the Bible. There are nations that are avowedly atheist like China soon to become the number one economy.
This though should never trouble us for as our verse shows from the days of Noah there is "a remnant chosen by grace"! And clearly these are not in the marjority. For the truth is, "You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Mathew 20:22).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for this personal faith in you which I deeply treasure and so help me persevere in truth to the end, this I pray in Jesus's name!
Related upcoming events
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18/04/2024 - 19/04/2024 All day“In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-7).
Once a certain gentleman saw a small mount of soil rising in one of his sparsely used bed rooms in his country house. He went back to the city unbothered. Upon his return he was shocked to find that what was once a small soil mount had grown into a huge anthill almost blocking the entrance. How did it get this big!” he whistled with disbelief.
Anyone who has leveled anthills knows that you need to dig up one down to the very bottom and seize the queen ant. So, in this case, it meant he had to excavate to the very foundations of the house. It was a costly venture involving destroying much of the original infrastructure.
So, what had begun as a small foothold in his house almost caused the gentleman to lose his entire beautiful country house. After all was done, he regretted why he had not attacked that small mount of soil the day he had spotted it but then ignored. He would have saved himself all this huge cost.
When the Bible cautions us, “and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27), it is not speaking of some big and overwhelming sin that is gripping a believer. Just as with that soil mount a foothold starts as a small poisonous seed dropped into one’s life appearing harmless at the start. But ignored it gradually grows into one huge tree with deep roots that to uproot it a life may go with it altogether.
For Believers there are all kinds of footholds. It could be unwholesome little talk spaced with curses. Sometimes it is occasional dabbling into harmful alcoholic beverages or dangerous drugs. There could be that small habit of helping oneself with company funds against policy. There is also that seemingly innocent peep into porn sites, after all, no harm!
Ignored, the once small foothold gradually extends into one huge and terrifying mountain, not that easy to level as it now completely controls its victim. To level it down would come at such a stiff price. For this reason, do not take lightly any temptations that come your way. The moment you give the devil an inch you are in for a long ride!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I pray to guard myself against any foothold the devil might trap me with, to live a victorious life in Christ, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
