Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. — Galatians 6:17
Everybody has their heroes. Let me tell you who mine are. My heroes are people who have suffered for their faith. People like Noble Alexander who spent 22 years in the Cuban gulag. Pastor Wally who turned down wealth and privilege to endure torture and an order for his execution. Tran Mai whose daughters were summoned to the police station and interrogated while he sat in a Vietnamese prison. Pastor Lamb whose wife died during his long incarceration.
I stand in awe of these men and women, to be honest with you. These forgotten heroes.
Many are enamored by sports stars, famous musicians or Hollywood celebrities, by business tycoons or political brokers of power. Many of these big names have worthy qualities, no doubt. Even so, they just haven’t captured my imagination.
None of us wants to step into the fiery furnace of persecution. But these men and women were willing to do it. I stand in awe of them, and I stand in awe of the God who lives inside them. I’m sure that deep inside they are just like me. They have fears. They get tired. They just want to quit and go home. They want a hug and some encouraging words. They probably have days when they feel like complaining. When they get hurt, they feel pain, just like I do.
But somehow God has overcome all those fears in them, their anger, their discouragement and has given them His overcoming Spirit and grace. This is something I don’t quite understand.
Forty-two years ago, when I was a little boy, my dad was studying electronics in the Air Force. He used to let me crawl up onto his lap and there he would read his electronics books to me. You might consider that a bit odd — reading electronics books to a five year old. But I loved it. I didn’t understand it, but I loved it nevertheless.
I get the same feeling now. I don’t understand God’s great work. But I do love to crawl up onto His lap and listen to what He has to say.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
What happens when you partner with Dwight Clough Ministries?
Victims of violent crimes and survivors of abuse are finding peace,
wholeness, the power to forgive and the strength to set boundaries.
Those ensnared by addictions are finding freedom. Marriages are being
restored. Families are strengthened. Christian brothers and sisters in
restricted lands who face persecution are finding strength and
encouragement. Young believers are learning how to walk with the Lord,
and people are coming into the faith for the first time. None of this
happens as a result of one person’s efforts, but rather this is God’s
work as He blesses the sacrifice of many people including yourself. We
partner with you, with other ministries, and, most significantly, with
the Lord. That’s how the supernatural happens.
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