We all need to make a statement of faith. Bold statements of faith that will guide us in difficult trials and help us to know what we are living for. As a result, you will make a difference in the lives of others.
When the Taliban captured the South Korean short-term mission team, pastor Bae was killed because he had refused to convert to Islam. His wife made a statement that she will not have his funeral until rest of the team was released and brought home safely. Her bold statement guided her through the dark hours.
When the Israelites were turning their backs on God by doing evil things, Joshua made a statement that would guide the nation back to God:
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15).
When hopelessness was all there was to choose, Ruth made a bold statement to follow God:
Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me (Ruth 1:16-17).
What is your bold statement of faith? Lauren McCain was one of the Virginia Tech students who was killed by Seung-Hui Cho in the deadliest gunfire massacre in the U.S. history. Lauren majored in International Studies and wanted to work overseas one day to be a witness for Christ.
Lauren passionately made a statement of faith: I want everyone to know I love Jesus. She lived up to her statement of faith by serving dinners up to 40 international students every week. Allie Burgin, a Virginia Tech student, was quoted in a local magazine about how Lauren impacted her heart: Lauren was outspoken about her love for Christ, more so than any other person I had ever met on a college campus. She called Him (Jesus) the love of her life. Lauren lived to her fullest for the love of Christ.
Esther made a bold statement in the face of death to stand on behalf of her people. As a result, thousands of lives were saved:
I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish (Esther 4:16).
Daniels three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, made a bold statement of faith by refusing to bow down to an idol. Their decision to stand firm in their faith made an impact upon the whole pagan world:
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up (Daniel 3:17-18).
Paul was no different. He had a clear purpose and made bold statements to challenge other Christians to live a real life of Christ. As a result, he was able to make a difference in the lives of others:
I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some (1 Cor. 9:22). May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal. 6:14). I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Tim. 4:7).
My mother passed away almost three weeks ago, and my dad told me that years ago she had told him, When I die, do not place any earthly things in my casket. Her statement of faith challenged me, inspired me and motivated me to live boldly for Christ.
My bold statement of faith is Risk your life for the glory of God and for the joy of all people. This statement guides me when my faith becomes weak and shallow. This statement helps me to visit Johnny, a homeless man who was in the hospital and now in jail. This statement gives me passion and determination to make a difference in the lives of others.
What is your bold statement of faith?
P. Tae
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