Your Heroic Moment - Abigail Skelton

We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Corrie Ten Boom is a household name today in the Netherlands. And for anyone who has read the Hiding Place or her other books, she is remembered as a hero for helping hide Jews from the Nazis. 

But isn’t it noteworthy that Corrie was in her fifties before anything grand and heroic happened in her life? In the years leading up to Hitler’s invasion of the Netherlands, Corrie worked in her father’s watch shop, volunteered with young adult Bible studies, helped special needs youth, and furthered her own education by reading books in other languages … including German. Her habits and discipline when it came to spending time with God and learning Scripture may have seemed insignificant for years, but when trouble hit, she was more prepared than most. She had already spent a lifetime readying herself for heroism.

We see examples of this all throughout the Bible as well. Moses grew up with the education and connections to Egypt, which later probably came in handy when he sought an audience with Pharaoh. 

David spent years herding sheep and talking to the Lord out in fields, which was clear preparation for shepherding the people of Israel and living on the run, dependent only on the Lord. 

Even Paul had the education, citizenship, and discipline needed for his calling to bring the gospel to new lands and to testify in Rome.

Sometimes even when our situations or skills seem random, God is at work in the background, preparing us for a moment when He can use what we have for His purposes—if we are willing participants. 

In most situations, heroes have chances to turn back, to live for themselves, and not bother with risks. We have that choice as well. But if we do decide to join God in what He is up to …perhaps even our daily routines and personality quirks can be instruments for the kingdom. Perhaps God is already getting us ready for our own heroic moment.

Pray that God will reveal His heroic moment to you. 

Abigail Skelton is from beautiful Southern Oregon, where she grew up with an avid love for Jesus, chocolate, and writing. She has lived in three countries while involved in missionary work and frequently travels and studies foreign languages. You can connect with Abigail on her website: https://abigailskelton.com.

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Reality in Reverse - Martin Wiles

The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming. Psalm 37:12-13 NKJV

Thousands thought him a Savior, but reality reversed itself.

Adolf Hitler capitalized on the anger of the German people. They had been humiliated by their defeat in World War I. War reparation payments drained their economy. His message was one of world domination and encouragement. He promised to make Germany great again, and thousands accepted his message.

Through a series of steps, Hitler became Germany’s Fuhrer, and world leaders watched as he began his march across Europe, conquering one country after another and eventually knocking on Great Britain’s door. World leaders tried appeasement, but it didn’t work.

What the world soon discovered was his systematic annihilation of Jews, Gypsies, and blacks. Any who would contaminate the pure German stock. Concentration camps with incinerators exterminated millions.

When world leaders finally decided to stamp out Hitler’s German machine, Hitler hid in a bunker and decided to take his own life before others could take it from him. What appeared in the beginning to be a great triumph turned into a great defeat.

The psalmist speaks of reality. World history and Bible history are both filled with examples of wicked people who flourished. And they still exist in every generation who walks across the world scene. Those with fame, power, possessions, and prestige often run roughshod over those who possess few if any of those traits. They occupy the limelight. They are the power players. They make the decisions that affect others.

But God has a way of reversing what appears to be reality. The wicked may seem to get ahead, but they actually fall behind those who choose to live a different type of life. Those who stand for morality. Those who stand for God’s principles.

In another psalm, the reality of the wicked is pronounced: “Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction” (Psalm 73:18). The righteous have no need to fear. In the end, evil will be defeated and good will prevail. In the meantime, the battle rages, but God and His followers will watch reality reverse.

Following Christ and standing for His principles always places us on the right side. Though it may appear we are losing—and though we may walk through rough places, God will reward our decision to follow and stand for Him.

Make sure you are standing on the winning side.

Tweetable: Are you standing on the winning side?

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your promise to reward our righteousness. 

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