Sheep Among Wolves

“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves;

so be shrewd as serpents and

simple as doves.”

Matthew 10:16

There’s so much good out in the world. People helping the poor, feeding the hungry, mentoring the youth and the troubled, standing together in prayer. Yesterday I was at a prayer meeting for a missing girl, and it was amazing to see how much people who did not even know the girl that came out to pray together for her and the family. There is indeed so much good out there. But, there’s also a lot of bad and evil. People who exploit the goodness and generosity of others. Those who use the name of God to manipulate others to pursue their selfish wants. Those who pervert the truth to justify their evil deeds.

As Christian disciples we are asked to live in this world but not to be of it. We are called to be a beacon of truth in a world that no longer believes in objective truth. We are asked to bring the Gospel of Love to people in a world that chooses to find love in things that will never satisfy them. We are to be witnesses to God’s love and mercy in a world that no longer believes in His existence. We will be mocked, ridiculed, and persecuted, but we must remain steadfast in our faith and continue to love because we must see the Christ that is in those who persecute us. We are like sheep among wolves, but we are not lost sheep. We are the sheep of the Good Shepherd who never abandons us but will guide us and remain with us. So, may we go confidently into the world proclaiming the love and mercy of God, confident in His Providence and plan for us.

Receiving Only to Give

“Without cost you have received;

without cost you are to give.”

Matthew 10:8b

Today we remember those who brought the faith to the Chinese people and those who gave up their life for Christ there. These martyrs ranged from as young as 7 or 8 to their elderly years. These people received the gift of faith and their hearts were set ablaze by it. Life can no longer be the same once you have encountered Christ and His love. What but love moved these people to die for their faith?  They did not choose to die. They chose to follow Christ, and wherever that leads them, they will go.

Where are we in our discipleship? The Chinese martyrs received the gift of faith and in turn gave their lives up for it. There is a story about one of those martyrs, a little girl, who as she walked to her martyrdom was singing hymns and crying tears of joy. It is in receiving the love of Christ that even as we walk through the difficult moments and seemingly “valleys of the shadow of death” we can do so joyfully and peacefully, confident that God is with us. May we today choose to receive the Father’s love and the gift of faith, and by doing so, allow our lives to be transformed, giving of ourselves in loving service to others.

Now is the Time

“The Kingdom of God is at hand:

repent and believe in the Gospel.”

Mark 1:15

Now is the time to act. Now is the time to do better and to turn from our wayward ways. Now is the time to reconcile and make amends. Now is the time to love and to forgive. Now is the time to stand up for what is true. Has there been something you’ve been meaning to start or to do? Do it! As long as it does not go against the Gospel, do it!  May all that you do glorify God and communicate His love and mercy to all. We cannot wait until later or when we are older to change our bad habits or return to the Lord because we do not know the time or day when we will be called home. We must be ready at all times. Like how we need to always be prepared to protect our family and have all the necessary precautions in place, we ought to do the same with our spiritual life. That can’t be put on hold. Now is the time. Don't wait another second for the Kingdom of God is at hand.