S.O.S.

Shared from Pastor Andy Anderson:

I was reading about Jeremiah A. Denton, Navy Admiral- Retired, Vietnam prisoner of war; US Senator, who is best known for his resistance against his captors by blinking the code for torture when paraded out by the North Vietnamese, to show the world how good they were treating their prisoners.  When they found out what he did, they beat him more. He spent most of his time as a prisoner of war, in solitary confinement because of his fierce resistance to his captors. He is a Christian, a man who would carry his faith through his life.  When I think about what he had to endure, I am encouraged because he brings out the best of the Christian character. Listen to this about Jesus: “Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death He might destroy the one holding the power of death – that is, the Devil – and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it is clear that He does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring. Therefore, He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:14-17  Christ became like us, so that He could show us that in suffering, He could overcome that. Jeremiah Denton, is an example of, through faith, you can overcome anything.  Jesus became like us, so that we should strive now to become like Him, through whatever kind of persecution, trial, suffering, that we might have to endure, we can live through it as Christ has showed us how. He has shown us that looking past the suffering, knowing that faith will eventually win out in the end. Are you enduring a trial that seems insurmountable? Is your faith wavering, wondering why you have to endure this? I can’t answer those questions for you, but can tell you to hang on to faith, and you will make it through. Hang on to Jesus the author of our faith, and you will make it through, remembering that He became like you to show you and me that in suffering we are not crushed, only dented a little, but we will get through this. Do you know someone else that might be going through this today? Let them see your faith! Let them see the Christ in you, that will walk with them through the flames.

Heavenly Father, may we be regarded as worthy to be an example of You to one next to us who is suffering.. May we glorify You by our actions. Let us not falter, but hang on to you, as we teach others to hang on to You.