How Blessed is the man who does not walk in the council of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! (Psalm 1:1)
She was only seven years old when the Nazi party official came to her home in Frankfurt, Germany. He was a foreboding man frightening in his demeanor. Her father calmly sent her to to her room, but concern caused her to listen from the hallway. The conversation turned ugly and the Nazi spoke these words,”Now the time has come for you to choose between Hitler and your precious Jesus.” The girl’s father replied with strength and confidence, “That decision has already been made a long time ago.” In a rage the Nazi threatened, “You fool that decision will cost you your lives.”
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.(Psalm 1:2-3)
When the Nazi official left, the girl ran to her father and cried, “Papa I will die with you”. Her father gently spoke with a heavy heart, “Sweetheart, it does not work that way. Each person must choose for themselves if they will follow Jesus. You are young and they will try to brainwash you, but you will have to choose.”
The wicked are not so,
But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm1:4-6)
That little girl became my mother. The challenges of that day have never been forgotten by her. Courage in the face of cruelty is always a virtue we should uphold. I have alway kept the events of that day close to my heart. Their courage reminds me not to compromise but to stand firm in my values and in my conviction to follow Jesus. My mother had to overcome many obstacles in her life. Her trust in God’s authority has always pulled her through the most dire of circumstances. My prayer is that God will grant me the courage of my Grandparents and the devotion to prayer that my mother and father have always had. It is the knowledge of His love and grace that moves me towards having a more courageous heart.
Today we face immense pressure to cave into political correctness and to sacrifice our values and faith in the misguided belief of human betterment. Humanity is not getting better. We are not evolving into a kinder race with more tolerance. We are becoming more cruel, violent and ambivalent. We have become a race that cares more about the latest fashion statement, than the widow who is desperate to clothe her children. We close our eyes to rape and butchery, but scream at toy manufacturers for toy doll sexism. Hate has become popular on all political spectrums, with no one willing to police themselves. We forget the victims and want to punish “things” instead of those who kill, rape and maim. The follower of Jesus needs to Stand firm and be courageous in the constant siege upon our faith. Paul wrote:
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)
Paul is telling us to act like men to be strong in our faith and convictions. We are to be on alert and to be active. God wants us to be people of action and to perform our action with love and grace. This love is to be like Jesus, because this supernatural love can only come from Jesus. We are to live in a manner worthy of his name and of the message He sent.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel. (Philippians 1:27)
Be strong! Do not waiver! Live in the love and grace of Christ.
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