“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1Corinthians 15:58 ESV)
No one is perfectly steadfast except Jesus. However, may this be our goal as we press into Him and abide in His presence moment by moment.
I confess I have considered ‘tossing in the towel’ at least 3 times. Being a full time missionary for going on 44 years has been both a privilege and a battle. The wicked one, the devil, has fought us tooth and nail over the years. He hates:
1. Anything that tries to glorify and honor God.
2. Anyone who teaches all of God’s Word, the Bible, is all of God’s Word.
3. Biblical marriage and what it models to the world.
4. All who are trying to follow the Lord Jesus with their whole heart.
His spiritual bullets are quite real. I’ve been lied to, slandered, betrayed, accused of heinous sins, called the worst of names, and the list goes on. Most of the attacks against me have come from Christians in the church and on the mission field. PTSD, Depression, and Battle Fatigue are real. Make no mistake about that!
I’m just saying, that staying on the front lines of spiritual battle takes its toll. There is a price to pay. Perhaps many of you know of such dark times in the grit and misery of Spiritual warfare.
Many Christians through the centuries have endured these and much worse. Barbara and I are reading a book on Martyrs of the faith. In reality, I have nothing to complain about. Their stories of remaining steadfast until the end are truly inspiring!
Thank God He has not allowed me to quit. Jesus is our Good Shepherd. As He leads, He protects and provides. Let’s pray for each other that He would continue to enable us to be steadfast for Him.
“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Hebrews 12:3 ESV)
Thu, May 28, 2020
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