Many of us would say that we are very blessed to live in this land of freedom. Robert Treat Paine, one of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago, put it this way: “I desire to bless and praise the name of God most high for appointing me my birth in a land of Gospel Light where the glorious tidings of a Savior and of pardon and salvation through Him have been continually sounding in mine ears.”
It is a blessing that we have this country to call our earthly home. Yet all too often, we take it for granted that we can serve God and share Him with others in more freedom than many Christians around the world. We take it for granted that someone else is “sounding the glorious tidings”. We assume that it will continue to be so forever, and that we can do it “anytime,” so we don’t get around to sounding those tidings ourselves.
But it cannot be forever — we know that things are becoming less welcoming to the Bible and God’s way; and people’s hearts are becoming less receptive. It is easy to feel like it’s no use — to think that back then, people were willing to listen to the gospel “continually sounding,” but now that we haven’t been sounding it much, and people do not want it, it is too late to do anything. But all hope is not lost. There is still much more freedom here, than in heavily persecuted countries where the church is growing!
“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;” (2 Tim. 1:8)
It is God who gives us the power: both to share the gospel, and to partake in any afflictions we face as a result. So what if people do not want to pay attention—we will do what God has called us to do, and by His grace and power this nation will continue to be a “land of Gospel Light” with the “glorious tidings…continually sounding” through the next 250 years, or however many God gives!
Quote taken from Wall Builders’ page of quotes from the Founding Fathers.
https://wallbuilders.com/resource/the-founding-fathers-on-jesus-christianity-and-the-bible/#_edn86
On our shopping trip this week two of us were able to hand out about 15 tracts, Praise the Lord! And no one refused, thank you so much for praying!
One encounter the Lord gave was a family whom I offered a tract to; The mom seemed sort-of uninterested, but her son (probably in his teens) took the tract and looked at it.
As I was walking away, I heard her ask him what it was and what I heard of his reply was “Christianity/religion…” Her answer: “Oh, you’re good. You just had…” (and she made reference to some sort of church related action, I can’t quite remember what.)
Upon hearing that, I felt like the Lord put it on my heart not to be silent, but to say more to them. A little later I mentioned to them that the tract was not about religion, but about Jesus Christ and a relationship with Him. The mom sort-of brushed it off with “of course you need a relationship, you can’t separate religion from a relationship…” and went on to explain her son had been to a “religious meeting” and given his life to Christ and was “coming back…but she (motioning to her daughter) is the one that needs it!” The daughter, in answer saying “No, I don’t! No, I don’t.”
It was a sad situation, seeing the girl’s obvious need and yet hardness and rejection towards the truth or even listening. I wanted to speak with her, but she showed no interest and didn’t want to really look at me. I prayed for wisdom in what to or not to say as both the mom and daughter seemed quite closed.
At that point, after encouraging them about the son’s decision, I continued to get the groceries we needed. Later I mentioned their words to my sister, who then suggested that I tell them of NoGreaterJoy ministries. I found one tract that I had with me that has their website address and approached them once more, explaining how much the ministry has been a life-changing blessing to us. The mom accepted it and listened; at the end of that conversation she seemed to have softened a bit, was thankful and said she would have her son look it up on their way home, he then put it in his pocket with the first tract.Please join me in praying for this family’s salvation, (They also had a little girl, about 2yrs old). And that they would read the tracts, that God would use His words through those resources to bring them to the truth!!
~ Carmela