"A Prophet Without Honor Among His Own" Must Keep Prophesying

The parallels abound between OT figures and Christ Himself.  Another one stood out to me while working through today's Bible Reading Challenge passage from Genesis (particularly 37:13-14).  Jacob sends Joseph to check up on his brothers, who reject him, though Joseph yet becomes a great governor.  Jesse sends David to check up on his brothers, one of whom criticizes David, who subsequently becomes king.  Then the Heavenly Father sends His Son, Who "came unto His own and His own received Him not," yet Christ is set at God's "own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and [God] hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1:20-23).  Amen.

So when you have truth to share, share it, even if those around you don't look upon you so favorably.  Look at what Joseph, David, and Christ reaped.  Look, as Christ did, for the joy set before you.  "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9).

Practice, Practice, Practice Courage

Christian Friend, do you Really love the LORD?

If a gun is put to your head by somebody telling you to denounce Christ Jesus, will you exercise courage to confess that you know and love Him?  How do you know you will?  

Have you been practicing courage even in the smaller things of life?

Did you ever raise your hand in school to openly challenge the atheistic evolutionist or philosopher?

Have you ever asked a co-worker to not profane the Lord's name?

Do you walk away from your friends as they enjoy a dirty joke?

Have you stood by yourself, holding a sign, on a public sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood?

When was the last time you mentioned God within the first 10 minutes of a conversation with a complete stranger?

Do you know the feeling of your heart racing as you enter a store without wearing a mask?

Have you ever held the hand of an injured stranger and prayed aloud for them while waiting for the medical personnel to arrive?

When bullets are flying on the battlefield, we want soldiers there on our behalf who have previously practiced these scenarios.  We don't tell them to just take it easy at bootcamp and on the base. "You don't need to practice the live-fire drills;  we know you'll stand strong when it really matters," said no sergeant ever.

If you're going to be courageous when it really matters, you need to be practicing now.

Psalm 27:14 - "Wait on the LORD:  be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart:  wait, I say, on the LORD."