Courage For Today

trial

Guilty as Charged

Grace

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)

I have had the pleasure, or displeasure depending on your perspective, of being selected for Jury Duty on three different occasions.  The first time I was selected, I was actually pretty excited.  I just knew I was going to see some exciting courtroom drama. The lawyers were going to argue back and forth. Someone was going to get thrown out of the courtroom.  Then, at the very end of the trial, one of the lawyers was going to surprise the courtroom with some newly found evidence that swayed the outcome of the case.  Then, I would join all the other Jurors for deliberations that went on for days while the one lone Juror held out hoping to sway all of the rest of us to change our decisions.  Just like on TV.

I was sadly disappointed when I never even got selected to be a Juror.  Just endless waiting to be chosen, only to be sent home for another day.

As Christians, we’re charged with the responsibility to be the Light of the World.  I suppose this could mean many things but, to me, it means that we should all lead our lives in a manner that would set an example for others.  As we lead our lives with integrity and honor and Christian love, our testimony and example are what make those that aren’t Christian want to be like us.  We’re supposed to be different, not in an arrogant or “we’re better than everyone else” mode, but different in a humble and positive way so that others will be drawn to the Christian faith by our examples. Sadly, I’ve not always been successful in doing this.  I haven’t always set the example I needed to set although that is always my goal.

Imagine yourself on trial before an imaginary Jury of your peers.  You are charged by the courts with being a Christian.  The question before the Jury is this:  Is there enough evidence presented to convict you of being a Christian?  Will this imaginary Jury come back undecided or unable to determine that there is enough evidence to convict you, or will they find you guilty as charged?

Courage Thoughts for Today:

  1. What evidence is there against you that would prove you’re a Christian?
  2. Are you spending time (as a good lawyer) trying to change the minds of others that you really are a Christian?
  3. Do you need to throw yourself upon the mercy of the “court” and ask God for forgiveness?

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Our Lives are Forged by Fire

Strength

My wife and I recently returned from a vacation to Washington D.C.  It was a wonderful trip that really brings history to life. There is simply something special about seeing the actual monuments and buildings that are so representative of our history.  On one of our vacation days, we were able to visit the home of George Washington at Mt. Vernon, Virginia.  What a beautiful estate with breathtaking views overlooking Washington.

At one particular point of our tour at Mt. Vernon, I noticed a smaller out-building on the estate surrounded by a small crowd of people.  As I walked closer, this particular building turned out to be the place where the blacksmith of the day practiced his trade.  A modern day blacksmith was demonstrating how to pound horse shoes into the proper shape, much as they had done all those hundreds of years ago.  It was fascinating to watch how the metal was heated and then hammered into just the correct shape by the master craftsman.

As I was watching this particular blacksmith practice this long forgotten craft, I was reminded of how God has worked so mightily in my own life sometimes “hammering” me into the shape I have become today.  The blacksmith took cold, hard metal and threw it into the hot coals that had been fueled by just the right combination of coal and air.  There was just the right amount of each to insure that the fire was the right temperature to heat the metal properly.  Too hot and the metal would be too pliable and not useable; too cold and the blacksmith would not be able to mold the metal into the right shape.  How many times in my life have I wondered why certain things or certain events or certain trials happened in my life?  It was because God knew (and knows) just the right combination of trial and comfort that I need in my life.  Too much trial and hardship and I might simply give up; too little trial and hardship and I might become complacent.  Our heavenly Father submits us to just the right combination of trials in order to make us moldable in the Father’s hands.

As the blacksmith pulled the heated metal from the fire, he began to hammer and hammer on the anvil until the metal was formed in the perfect shape he desired.  It was amazing to watch a piece of perfectly straight, heated metal gradually formed into the shape of a horseshoe.  What began as a useless piece of metal was now molded into a usable horseshoe for the protection of some horse’s hoof.  The blacksmith could have pulled the heated metal from the hot coals and not touched it with the hammer and the metal would eventually cool and remain the same.  The heat of the trial in and of itself is not enough; we must allow the master to mold and shape us.  I am sure if the metal could speak, there was no enjoyment in the constant hammering.  Over the years, I’ve learned that I have to be receptive to God’s calling and teaching in my life, whatever that might be.  The trials I experience are simply preparation for the stretching and bending that waits.  Simply going through a trial is not reason in and of itself to cause me to change.  There still has to be a willingness to change.  The trials prepare my heart for what is coming so that my heart is in the right place for the stretching and growing that awaits me.

In the end, when the finished horseshoe is nailed to the horse’s hoof, the blacksmith completes the final touches to insure a perfect fit.  He lovingly takes the horse’s leg and gently uses a rasp to finely tailor the shoe perfectly to the horse’s hoof.  After the heat and the hammer, a simple loving rasp is all it takes for a perfect fit.  Our Father may send you through the fire and trials of life and the molding and shaping you endure may hurt temporarily.  However, the gentle loving arms of our Father will mold and shape you in ways you never dreamed possible making it all worthwhile.

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The Peace in Learning to Enjoy the Journey

Encouragement

My wife and I had a great time this past summer visiting Stone Mountain Park, here in the Atlanta area, with our grandsons.  We had the opportunity to spend the day with them seeing the various sights and attractions and just had a wonderful time.  One thing that my grandsons had really wanted to do that particular day was climb to the top of the mountain.  Stone Mountain isn’t a particularly tall mountain and fortunately has walking trails to the top, but for a 5 and 6 year old, along with grandpa and grandma, it is a formidable task.

Even though our grandsons’ enthusiasm was much greater than mine and my wife’s, we relented and decided to start the slow trek up the mountain.   The beginning part of the trail was slow and gradual.  It seemed like we were taking forever to climb just a short distance, but I had to remind myself that it took 3 of their strides to equal 1 of ours, so I found myself walking ahead of them, then having to stop and let them catch-up, over and over again.

I was tired and sweaty, just wanting to get to the top of the mountain so I could rest and then start my way back.  I learned early on during our hike that this wasn’t going to be the case.  We had to stop and look at every large rock with someone’s name carved in it.  We looked at unusual plant formations.  We examined large trees that were growing crooked and we explored small rock overhangs that reminded the kids of caves. My grandsons viewed the hike as an exciting adventure.  Climbing the mountain was a trial to me and I was simply looking for the hike to be over with quickly before I succumbed to dehydration and heat stroke.  My grandsons were not focused at all on the trial of climbing the mountain; they were simply enjoying the journey of the hike.

I know when I face a trial in life, no matter what it is, I tend to dwell on the problem.  I want the trial to be over with quickly and let life get back to normal.  While I never enjoy being in the midst of a trial, I was reminded by my grandsons that I should always learn to enjoy the journey.  What can I learn during the course of the trial?  How can I grow?  What is God trying to teach me?

At some point, the trial will be over and we’ll be joyous for sure.  But, the real joy should not be that the trial’s over, but in celebrating what I learned during the journey.

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Convicted in Your Faith

Faith

There have been so many courtroom TV shows over the years, even currently.  Of course, you’ve got the old standard, Perry Mason and such classics as Matlock; LA Law; and today’s Law and Order.  I’m sure there are many more, but those are just some of the names I remember.  Then, you have the reality show courtroom dramas such as People’s Court; Judge Judy; and Judge Joe Brown.  They are quite entertaining, but I’m not sure how realistic they are.

Typically, you have a case that can’t be won, handled by a lawyer that never loses, that ends with a courtroom victory for this fabulous lawyer.  Justice prevails and all the world is right, at least until the next episode.

I have had the pleasure, or displeasure depending on your perspective, of being selected for Jury Duty on three different occasions.  The first time I was selected, I was actually pretty excited.  I just knew I was going to see some exciting courtroom drama.  The lawyers were going to argue back and forth.  Someone was going to get thrown out of the courtroom.  Then, at the very end of the trial, one of the lawyers was going to surprise the courtroom with some newly found evidence that swayed the outcome of the case.  Then, I would join all the other Jurors for deliberations that went on for days while the one lone Juror held out hoping to sway all of the rest of us to change our decisions.  Just like on TV.

I was sadly disappointed when I never even got selected to be a Juror.  Just endless waiting to be chosen, only to be sent home for another day.

As Christians, we’re charged with the responsibility to be the Light of the World.  I suppose this could mean many things but, to me, it means that we should all lead our lives in a manner that would set an example for others.  As we lead our lives with integrity and honor and Christian love, our testimony and example is what makes those that aren’t Christian want to be like us.  We’re supposed to be different, not in an arrogant or “we’re better than everyone else” mode, but different in a humble and positive way so that others will be drawn to the Christian faith by our examples.

Sadly, I’ve not always been successful in doing this.  I haven’t always set the example I needed to set.  I’ve let others down when I could have done more.  Probably, if we’re honest, we’ve all had times when we’ve not set the Christian example we should.

Imagine yourself on trial before an imaginary jury of your peers.  You are charged with being a Christian.  The question before the Jury is this:  is there enough evidence presented to convict you of being a Christian?  Or, will the Jury come back undecided and unable to determine that there is enough evidence?

Would you be convicted?

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