The Weekly Focal Point - September 9, 2021

Courage

It takes increasing amounts of courage these days to stand up for what is true and right. Mocking Christianity and God’s commands is mainstream in the media, modern art and popular literature. This should not come as a surprise. God’s word foretold the escalating darkness and mounting hostility that we are now experiencing.

The Bible reminds us that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:12-13). But don’t lose heart. These times were scheduled to come. To say that right is right will cost us more than ever. The harassment will intensify as we appropriately fear of God in a world that makes a hobby of mocking him.

So let us, with Paul, who was being harshly treated and even facing death at the hands of those who hated his promotion of Christ and his word, say: “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:20-21).

-- Pastor Mike