Moving Through a Hostile World – Forward by Faith – Purity 1907
Purity 1907 03/10/2026 Purity 1907 Audio Podcast
Purity 1907 on YouTube:
Good morning,
Today’s photo of Giuseppe Bazzani’s (1690-1769), oil on canvas, “The Kiss of Judas,” comes to us from yours truly, as I captured this work of art while visiting the Springfield Museums back on December 9th, 2023.
Well, it’s Tuesday and as you may have noticed, a few of the photos of the day lately have been works of art that I had photographed from my visit to the Springfield Museums in 2023 and I decided to continue sharing from that section of my I-phone’s photo archive as they display the glory of God’ creation both in the subject matter of the paintings and through the talents of the artist who have long ago entered into eternity.
I sort of dropped the ball in terms of doing anything to acknowledge the season of Lent this year, and have decided to continue sharing these works of art from now until Easter Sunday to share the beauty of the work and to honor the artists who tried to at least make the world a more beautiful place.
Today’s painting depicts the betrayal of Jesus, and it reminds me of the fact that the faith that has given me so much peace and joy came in the midst of persecution, suffering, and sorrow. It also reminds me of the times that I have suffered rejection and mild persecution because of my faith in Jesus. In our current culture’s supposed “era of inclusion” that purports to support “a modern shift toward deliberately fostering workplace, educational, and social environments where diverse individuals (race, gender, ability, background) feel valued, respected, and empowered”, it is amazing to me how Christianity can be so undervalued and disrespected.
Our secular post-Christian society thinks nothing of dishonoring the Christian religion with all types of disrespect and enmity to the point that any authentic expression of Christian faith is questioned or assumed by non-believers as a lampoon, a joke. I was at an automotive repair shop the other day where one of the automotive tech’s was wearing a sweatshirt that had the words “Bible Study” on the front. I didn’t notice this until one of the patrons commented on it, saying, “I love your sweatshirt. That’s hilarious.” To which the tech disavowed any faith and explained that some well-meaning but misled elderly Christian patron had gifted it to them, and they only wore it because it was warm.
The fact that the idea of “Bible Study” would cause such derision is only a small piece of the evidence of how hostile the world has become toward expressions of Christian faith. As the co-host of a weekly online Bible Study, this exchange made me uncomfortable and impressed upon me how very lost and hostile this world is towards Christianity. But that our faith, the truth of the gospel, is foolishness to those who are perishing, and Christians are called to be faithful even if it won’t always be easy.
Speaking in moving forward in faith despite our personal comfort level, the In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley devotion from yesterday addressed how our faith will be tested, and I am sharing it on the blog today to encourage us to be faithful regardless of how uncomfortable we or the world will be when we share it. Dr. Charles Stanley writes:
“Forward by Faith
Obedience is often uncomfortable, sometimes difficult—but staying the course always leads to blessing.
Genesis 12:4-9
Faith can be dulled when we are focused on our own comfort rather than God’s plan. Abraham did not fall into this trap. He traded the familiar for the unknown and received many blessings.
Living by faith is the correct response when God calls us to move forward—and His call can come at any time, regardless of our age or position. Abraham was 75 when he began his journey, whereas David was still a boy when he was anointed as king (1 Samuel 16:11-13). And Paul, at the height of his power and strength, was en route to arrest Jewish believers in Damascus when he encountered the Lord (Acts 9:1-6).
Following God will also include times of testing. Abraham, like all of us, had some successes and some failures. The initial call to leave his country was met with strong belief and immediate action. As a result, the Lord promised a great blessing for him and his descendants. But a famine brought a different response—a sojourn to Egypt, deception about his relationship with Sarah, and chastisement from Pharaoh. Our response to God matters.
Obeying the Lord can be uncomfortable. But faith will keep us moving forward in obedience. It helps us stay the course and experience the blessings found in a relationship with Christ. – Charles Stanley
Amen. Jesus told his disciples that they could expect persecution because if the world hated Him, it would certainly hate them too.
While we can hope that we never face persecution at the same level as Jesus and the Apostles, we might, and we have to realize that Jesus’ warning to His followers back then applies to us too.
This is one of the seeming paradoxes of our faith. You would think that repenting and following the Lord would only lead to blessings, but because the world is corrupted by the evil of sin, it doesn’t go that way.
Following Jesus has never been a comfortable or easy thing to do. Not only is it difficult to turn from our old, sinful ways of thinking and behaving, but we also do so in the context of a hostile environment, as we will be rejected and reviled by those who don’t believe.
When we choose to follow Jesus, we are called to represent His kingdom on earth, but our faith is constantly tested as the world will oppose us and seek to make us quit and go back to “normal”. There is nothing more sinister than seemingly “good people” who would tell you to stop being the person that God called you to be.
So, prepare yourself. Tests will come, but God will give you the strength and wisdom to pass the test and to shine a light for the gospel through your faithful endurance.
The difficulties we face pale in comparison with the blessings we receive in Christ, but the world will seek to deceive you and make you forget about what the Lord has done for you. Remember you are:
- Forgiven,
- Saved,
- Blessed,
- Loved,
- And Free.
No matter what anyone says about you, the truth of your new life in Christ can’t be taken away. So stand in your identity in Christ and do the things that the Lord would have you do, even when it is uncomfortable.
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For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide, I offer apologist Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/.
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Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By John G. Kruis.
(While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick Google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late author’s work. (The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling By John G. Kruis on Amazon )
This morning’s meditation verses come from the section on the Providence of God.
Joshua 23:15–16 (NASB) It shall come about that just as all the good words which the LORD your God spoke to you have come upon you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the threats, until He has destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you. When you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which He has given you.
Today’s verses fall under the eleventh point of our counseling reference guide resource section on the Providence of God.
11. God will also carry out his threats.
Today’s Bible verse reminds us that there are consequences for unfaithfulness. Here God’s word reminds us that it really does matter what we believe and what we practice. The Israelites took pride in being God’s chosen people, but amazingly, they weren’t always faithful, and the entire Old Testament teaches us of how God will cause us to suffer when we put our faith in anything other than Him.
These words in Joshua are prophetic as succeeding generations of Israelites would learn about God’s curses firsthand – as the kingdom was split in two and later both Israel and Judah were sacked and sent into exile.
So, take the word of the Lord seriously. Follow Jesus and worship the Lord only because if you wander into a false religion or idolatry, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when the consequences of your sinful unbelief come to bear.
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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.com, where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today, we continue sharing from “Pause for Power” By Warren Wiersbe.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Wiersbe’s books for your own private study and to support the late author’s work. This resource is available online for less than $20 at many sites.
Day 41 – Ignorance Is Amiss – Read 1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. – 1 Peter 3:7
When someone asked Mrs. Albert Einstein if she understood Dr. Einstein’s theory of relativity, she replied, “No, but I understand the doctor.” In my premarital counseling as a pastor, I often asked couples to write down the three things each one thought the other enjoyed doing the most. Usually, the prospective bride would not only complete her list quicker than the groom, but she would also have more correct answers.
It is amazing that two people can make plans to live together for the rest of their lives and not really know each other! Ignorance is dangerous in any area of life, but it is especially dangerous in marriage. A Christian husband needs to know his wife’s moods, feelings, needs, fears, and hopes. He needs to listen with his heart and share meaningful communication with her. There must be such a protective atmosphere of love and submission in the home that the husband and wife can disagree and still be happy together. When either mate is afraid to be open and honest about a matter, the couple is building walls and not bridges.
Something to Ponder – If you are married, what are some practical things you and your spouse can do to try to improve your listening skills? If you are not married, how can you cultivate the ability to listen to others with your heart?[1]
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[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Pause for Power: A 365-Day Journey through the Scriptures, 2nd Ed., Year in the Word Series (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2010).
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