I hope that you had a Merry Christmas. It was busy at our house all day long. The only member of my family that wasn't home was my daughter who is in the US Army. She had thought about coming home for the holidays but opted against it and stayed on Post. It's a good thing that she did or she would have spent much of the leave at Denver in the airport with other travelers who were stranded because of the snow storm.
When we look back at the year we see just how good Jesus has been to us. We live in a free country where we can worship God without being persecuted. That's not the case in a lot of the world. We read about other believers being killed for their faith. Some countries only want you to be of the faith that they chose, not what the Bible teaches. I watch how we are losing more of our religious freedom right here in America and wonder where it's going to end up. I know that you hear it in the news everyday. Unfortunately we just stand by and think it will get better but that isn't what is going to happen if we don't start standing up for our God. Satan and his workers are hard at work and they are slowly picking away at our religious freedom to worship God. All we have to do is just stand by and one day we will be told who and where we can worship.
My dad always told me that if you don't stand up for what is right, eventually you will not have that right. He also said there is the the 5% who will make a stand, and the 95% who will let them. When I look at our world today, that is exactly how I see it playing out. We the United States seem to be the only ones who try to make things better for all humanity. We do have some help from the few allies we have and we are grateful for that help, but we have many more countries who are continually bashing us in the press for trying to help. We may not always be right with our policies, but I feel that our heart is in the right place. We are trying to make this world a better place for all.
We shouldn't be surprised at what is taking place around the world as well as in our own country because God warned us to expect these things to happen. He told us that if we live a godly life in Jesus, we will be persecuted for our faith.
2Timothy3:12
(Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.)
We are also told what we are to do to all those who persecute us for our faith.
Romans;12:14
(Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.)
We need to stay strong in our faith and belief in our Lord Jesus Christ. While others are persecuting us and slandering us for our faith, we have to hold fast to our testimony. It's not always easy to have others trash you in front of people you work with or you know, but God tells us not to take revenge.
1Peter;2:19-21
(For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.)
We are instructed to continue to do good to all people.
1Peter;2:15
(For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.)
If we want to continue to receive blessing from God, we need to do His will and help others who are in need and to keep Him in our life and country. If our country doesn't want to have anything to do with God, our country cannot expect God to bless us and keep us safe. If we don't draw near to Him, we cannot expect Him to draw near to us. He is not going to push Himself on us. He wants us to have a personal relationship with Him because we want to, not because we have too. He loves us and wants to be our heavenly Father. We as His children need to show our love for Him by obeying His commandments and relying on His strength, not our own.
God Bless You!
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