The Black-Eyed Gospel
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7
One of the elders of an inner-city church showed up sporting a black eye. When asked how he got it, he stated, “I did not get it; I earned it!” and went on to relate his story.
As he was on his way home the prior night, two young men jumped him meaning to rob him. When they knocked him down, he could tell they were amateurs.
Moved by the power of the Holy Spirit, he began to chide them for doing such a bungling job of it. He railed them, saying, “When I was in this business, we didn’t just knock people down and make demands of them; we knocked them out and took what we wanted!”
Seeing he had their attention, he began to share with them the Jesus who had changed his life. By the time he was done, they had heard the good news of the gospel. Although they couldn’t have said why, both young men thanked him for sharing, returned his cell phone, apologized, and left.
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I am not encouraging you to risk your life unless guided by the Holy Spirit! I am encouraging you to take a stand against the wiles of the devil. Though not everyone has a story like the elder in today’s scenario, we all have the ability to refuse to be bullied by Satan.
Paul admonished Timothy not to bend to the enemy’s attack just because he growls loud or brings something sensuous our way. We are not namby-pamby, spineless children of a powerless god. We were bought at a price we cannot comprehend. And the Father asks us to remember that when opposition comes our way. He has invested great power in us and asks us to discipline ourselves in love. We shall be battered and bruised in this life. Wouldn’t it be good if our suffering were attributed to the cause of Christ?
Prayer
“This world holds fears and temptation for us, Lord. We need Your power to rise up in us when we face opposition. Be near, O Lord, and show us how to stand as children of the King! In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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