Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. ~ 1 Corinthians 16:13

It is a cold and rainy August day in the mountains. The sound of water is everywhere, dancing on the roof of our wooden home, trickling through the holes in the gutters, overflowing from the water tanks, running in muddy rivulets down the winding paths and lanes of our village. There is a warm fire in the hearth, a singing kettle on the stove and five damp dogs, snoring contentedly on the rugs.

There is abundance here, such abundance... On a day like this, the horrors of the recent Taliban takeover and the consequences for the people of Afghanistan seem almost unimaginable. But then I read that some Afghan believers are choosing to stay in that place of oppression and persecution, even if it means that they will die. The Holy Spirit has placed it on their hearts not to flee, but to stay and share the gospel and hold out the light of Hope that is Jesus our Saviour.

I quote this from an unknown believer: "This is how I know I'm not worthy to stand in the midst of so many Christians across this planet. The ones who choose not to run and cower in the face of death, but instead face it head on, if it means showing love to another without compromising on truth and what is godly. This is what it means to make your lamp stand shine brighter in the midst of darkness and why evil will never triumph over good. "

Is that not abundance? When all else is stripped away and our God gives the courage and conviction to truly place His Kingdom before our earthly safety and comfort. My prayer is that God will pour out His love abundantly on these faithful warriors, that He will give them His peace that passes all understanding. And that the joy of knowing that should He ask of them the ultimate sacrifice, their faces, like Stephen, will radiate with the glorious vision of heaven before them.

Is that not abundance? God has always loved generously, through suffering and persecution, He has never abandoned those who are called by His name. And He never will. 

I pray, with all my heart, that when God calls us to choose Him and His Kingdom above ALL else, that we would also, like Peter, turn from the comfort of the coal fire, jump from the safety of the boat, to walk on water with Jesus.

Counted Worthy

This weighty burden thou dost bear,
This heavy cross,
It is a gift the Lord bestows,
And not a loss;
It is a trust that He commits
Unto thy care,
A precious lesson He has deigned
With thee to share.

Rejoice that He so honors thee
And so esteems
Of highest worth; the crown of thorns
With Him to wear,
And all the suffering of that crown
With Him to bear,
That by and by His glory, too,
With Him thou’lt share.

Annie Johnson Flint

Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.