Digging Deeper – Standing Firm in Your Faith
9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.
12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:9-10, 12-13 (NLT)
STANDING FIRM IN YOUR FAITH
We hear so many stories of persecution in other countries of those who stood firm in their faith, holding steadfastly to their belief in Jesus. Do you ever wonder what you would do in the same situation? In all honesty, sometimes I find myself wondering, “Would I be strong enough to face death or even torture?” I can only imagine the thoughts that would race through my head in such a moment like that. I’m willing to stand up to criticism and hate, but am I willing to go through persecution and death?
I think it’s an important question to wrestle with. And God is okay with our questions. The important part is how we follow the question. If you conclude that you’re unsure what you’d do, then I challenge you to dig deeper. An authentic faith is an enduring faith. I know my faith is authentic because I can look back at my testimony and see times in my life when I saw the Lord answer prayer in only a way He could. I’ve felt His presence in moments of worship or rest. I’ve seen Him move in the lives of my children. I’ve seen Him move in the lives of others. I’ve heard the testimonies of incredible miracles in the lives of others. I know without a doubt that the God I believe in is real, and I stand firmly on that even if from time to time I have moments of wondering.
Reflection:
Reflect on what the Lord has done in your life. What have you seen Him do in the lives of those around you? Reflect back to the moment you put your trust in the Lord for the first time—do you remember the emotions you felt?
Courtney Miller is the Special Needs ministry Director at NorthStar Church. She was born a Texas girl, but has lived in Georgia the majority of her life (Go Dawgs!). She married her husband, Chris, in 2012. They have two children with a third on the way.