Choices

I start every morning with coffee and God through daily devotions from Our Daily Bread Ministries, https://odb.org. Today’s devotion is titled “Whatever the Cost” The scripture is from John 12:37–43 with the key verse, " They would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear", John 12:42. Tim Gustafson wrote this devotion. My beloved children, grandchildren, brothers, and sisters in Christ, all that I write, I pray first to God to guide my words, so that it may serve as spiritual food and guidance. I want God to be the sole source of my writing, so all the credit goes to Him, not to me. I am only his humble servant. I thank God that He led me to use Our Daily Bread Ministries as a base for comments. It is true that Christians are persecuted even in the U.S. While I was teaching at a school in California, I identified myself as a proud servant of God on my voice mail. My principal was outraged and berated me. He told me that people were complaining. I caved because I did not know my rights. I turned down a job as a teacher in Los Angeles because the curriculum was contrary to biblical principles. I have been cursed out and my comments taken down in some chat sites (Newsmax) because I talked about the Love of Christ, and quoted scripture. Now I am blessed to work with principals and bosses who are Christians. I cannot speak for every Christian, but I rather acknowledge being a follower of Christ, than deny or pretend I never knew Him. I trust that God will take care of me and give me even better opportunities. Reflect: We might be tempted to judge the early believers who hid their faith, but are we any different? Are there times we choose to be quiet so we can hide our identification with Jesus? Prayer: Jesus, I want to be a close friend of Yours.

May God bless you and encourage you to be a close friend.

Our Daily Bread Ministries (2019, Sep. 14). Whatever the Cost, Tim Gustafson, retrieved from www.odb.org/2019/14/09/ Whatever the Cost.