The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1
My testimony often comes under attack by various adversaries and haters...
The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1
My testimony often comes under attack by various adversaries and haters...
I have my share of enemies and malicious detractors. There's no denying it. But this is to be expected. And I even have my own name for them: "satan's soldiers."
Collectively they remind me of the biblical character who went by the name of Alexander. He was a professional idol maker who made his gods out of copper. In the Scripture the apostle Paul says of him, "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works" (2 Timothy 4:14).
With the apostle Paul having come into the region to preach the gospel of faith in Christ Jesus alone for salvation and the forgiveness of sin, many were now choosing to embrace Jesus. While at the same time they were rejecting their former idols and destroying them. Obviously, this was putting a big dent in Alexander's business. So with sales of idols dwindling, Alexander set out to cause harm to Paul.
But while Alexander and his fellow coppersmiths tried to make Paul's life miserable, the apostle continued to do what God had called him to do. This being to teach, preach, and evangelize. Paul, instead of fighting back, simply gave the matter over to God.
I have to do the same. I must overlook their verbal attacks and accusations. But I can only do it through the Lord and His grace. I must pray for them and ask the Lord to have mercy upon them the same way He has had mercy upon me. I must forgive my antagonists, and I must love them. "Lord, please help me to do this."
D. B.
Collectively they remind me of the biblical character who went by the name of Alexander. He was a professional idol maker who made his gods out of copper. In the Scripture the apostle Paul says of him, "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works" (2 Timothy 4:14).
With the apostle Paul having come into the region to preach the gospel of faith in Christ Jesus alone for salvation and the forgiveness of sin, many were now choosing to embrace Jesus. While at the same time they were rejecting their former idols and destroying them. Obviously, this was putting a big dent in Alexander's business. So with sales of idols dwindling, Alexander set out to cause harm to Paul.
But while Alexander and his fellow coppersmiths tried to make Paul's life miserable, the apostle continued to do what God had called him to do. This being to teach, preach, and evangelize. Paul, instead of fighting back, simply gave the matter over to God.
I have to do the same. I must overlook their verbal attacks and accusations. But I can only do it through the Lord and His grace. I must pray for them and ask the Lord to have mercy upon them the same way He has had mercy upon me. I must forgive my antagonists, and I must love them. "Lord, please help me to do this."
D. B.
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