We will have to be bold

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Live like it’s true”

Our Bible verse for today: “And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness …” Acts 4:29 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “We will have to be bold.”

Dr. D.A. Carson once wrote, “Of all the great ironies in the modern mind, the intolerance of tolerance must be one of the greatest.” What he meant was that the concept of “tolerance” has become enshrined in the modern liberal mind as one of the highest virtues. But at the same time, those liberal advocates of “tolerance” are often some of the most intolerant towards anyone who disagrees with them. (Try having a conversation about Biblical sexual ethics with a radical advocate of the Gay and Lesbian agenda and see how far their tolerance of opposing views goes.) In 2012 Dr. Carson wrote a best-selling book on the subject. The title was “The Intolerance of Tolerance.” It’s a great read and I recommend it highly.

I refer to “the intolerance of tolerance” just to make the point that we as Christians live in a society that is increasingly intolerant of those who promote and live a Biblical worldview. And things are getting worse not better. I believe we have reached the point in our nation’s history when Christians will face increased opposition and perhaps even persecution as we attempt to live according to our faith and to share the faith with others. Will we be up to the challenge?

In the previous set of devotional messages on the theme of “sanctification,” I referred several times to the writings of author Nik Ripkin, Over the course of several decades, Nik conducted an in-depth study of Christians living in the most oppressive societies in the world. He interviewed them, lived among them, and wrote about them. His objective was to discover how the strongest, most faithful Christians lived their faith in the most difficult and oppressive of environments. Nik’s books “The Insanity of God,” “The Insanity of Obedience,” and “The Insanity of Sacrifice,” are quite literally textbooks or “how to” manuals for all Christians everywhere.

Good discipleship that grows strong Christians has always been important and needed in every society, and that will certainly be true for Christians in the USA in the years to come. If we are going to be faithful and effective, we will have to be mature in our faith so we can then be courageous and bold despite the difficult circumstances we may find ourselves facing.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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