EXTREME DEVOTION

With all the news we currently hear about the perse-cution of Christians around the world, do you wonder how your faith would stand up under extreme trials?

Extreme Devotion is the title of a book of daily devotionals and a compilation of 365 true accounts of believers who exhibited their extreme devotion to Christ by sacrificing everything they had for Him. Every story is an extreme challenge to my own devotion to the Lord Jesus. Do I have the courage of my commitment to the Lord when the going gets tough? I ask myself “What would I do if I were in that same situation?”

I find it all too easy to think that here in New Zealand we may never be put to such extreme tests of courage, dedication and determination to do God’s will. Two Sundays ago I happily sang “I have decided to follow Jesus, NO turning back, and “The cross be-fore me, the world behind me, NO turning back”

These words reminded me of Peter who confidently declared that “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you”. In spite of Jesus’ warning that Peter would deny knowing Him three times he continued by insisting, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you”. Yet it was only a few hours later that Peter denied the Lord under extreme trial.

Let us take comfort and courage that Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail and that he now as our High priest prays for us in heaven.