Week of September 14th
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“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, And delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: But the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”
In memory of Charlie Kirk, a pioneer of our time to a voice in the wilderness, the one who battled Goliaths daily and boldly walked into the lion’s dens. If you feel led to support his family, you can find the website here: Turning Point USA. (I have no affiliation with this organization, this is just a heart felt way to help spread love and support towards their family.)
A Week of Sorrows
Why would God allow such an awful act of evil to happen?
He didn’t let it; evil does exist.
It’s what Christians do in these conflicting times that matters: we rise and show God’s love, even in the face of evil.
This week has been one of many sorrows; this world has evil in it, BUT it also has good. We have a brother in Christ who went boldly into the lion’s den to communicate with others who hold different views. If you haven’t heard by now, Charlie Kirk, a true man of God, has graduated to his eternal home. A time for grieving in respect of losing a man of God who was making such an impact with our youth, to meet them where they were and have an open conversation with them. He showed Christians how to have open, non-judgmental conversations with others from all walks of life, regardless of age or belief.
We are in continual prayer for his wife, Erika Kirk, and his children. The days and weeks ahead are going to be the most challenging as they navigate a new world for them. A world full of firsts that no one should have to face, but one that will have a big void in their hearts, her husband, and their father. The first that includes attending church, birthdays, and holidays, to learn how to live their life without him present will be a long and lasting road ahead, but with God, He will comfort and embrace them with His presence so they will have the strength to carry on each day.
May God continue to be with them, the community he impacted, and the many that will continue to lift the torch he left behind to continue the great commission, one left to us all - to spread the gospel of the saving grace of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Saviour.
Let the remembrance of Charlie Kirk ignite a fire for God to be the light in a world that needs Jesus now more than ever. Be patient, kind, and understanding. This is a time of healing, and many are processing this situation. Let us not allow this circumstance to go in vain; may it just be the “Turning Point” where all Christians rise with love and grace to spread Jesus’ love.
Heavenly Home
God knows everything that has happened, is occurring, and will come. There is nothing that takes God by surprise. If we consider that this world is not a permanent home, then the spiritual world becomes more relevant.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” - Matthew 6:19-21
The Righteous Cry - The LORD Heareth
God hears all our troubles, He knows our hearts, and at times we don’t have the words to express our sorrows. God knows, when we come to Him in prayer, He sees our afflictions. “The Lord is nigh to them that are of a broken heart…” God knows. This week has been heavy on my heart. I did not have the opportunity to meet the individuals we lost, but my heart grieved for them as it does when we hear of any lost life. We carry our brokenness to God, and over time, He will mend the wounds. It will never be the same, but we are not meant to carry these burdens on our own, but to take them to prayer and rely on God to heal.
God Saveth Those With A Contrite Spirit
Those with a broken heart who acknowledge their sin, those who cry out to God in forgiveness of their sins - God promises they will be saved. The first step of salvation is to acknowledge what sin is, to admit you have sinned, and ask forgiveness from God our Heavenly Father to cleanse you from sin.
What will cause an individual to know they have sinned? To have those open conversations with them and to show what God says about sin, we are not called to judge others’ sins, but we are to share what God’s Word says. God’s Word will not come back void. Human nature has a prideful spirit, one that takes a lot to break down and admit they have sinned. If you find yourself in conversation with an individual that is not want to accept God’s Word, it’s up to you to share and pray that God will do a work in their heart to open their eyes to salvation.
Many Are The Afflicted
When you are saved and forgiven of your sins, through salvation, it’s important to strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ and to become a fervent student of God’s Word.
This world is full of afflictions, but as a child of God, those afflictions are no longer our own to bear ourselves, but to take them to God’s throne and ask for His divine grace to help us through. Troubled times will come, evil is real, and we live in a world full of evil. Knowing God and having the assurance of His salvation, we realize that trials will come and go, but God is never changing, and His love is eternal.
Set your foundation on God’s promises, even through tribulations. This is a time when God’s light can shine.
The LORD Delivereth
The Lord is great and just; He is the LORD over the good and evil. Remember that ALL have sinned; therefore, we must keep in mind that a lost sinner, unknown to the salvation of God, has the potential to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour, just like we once had.
Everyone has the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour - to have forgiveness of their sins. God would not want anyone to die without eternal life in Heaven. This is the reason He sent Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice once and for all of the sins of the world, past, present, and future. All have the opportunity to be forgiven.
This week’s challenge:
What are ways you can show God’s love towards others?
Do one act of kindness each day this week: buy a stranger a coffee, bring a neighbor a meal, serve in your community.
Find a way to honor our brother in Christ by picking up the torch where he left off, and spreading the message of hope, faith, and love to a lost and dying world that needs Jesus Christ now than ever.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father,
Heavenly Father, we come to you with heavy hearts from the events that have occurred this week and the remembrance of 9/11. We know there is nothing that takes you by surprise, even in the situation of evil circumstances. You can turn things around so that good can come from it. May You embrace Erika Kirk and her children as they carry on a life without Your servant, Charlie Kirk. We ask that You continue to ignite the fire of truth within others to continue the torch that Charlie Kirk carried. We don’t understand why things happen as they do, but You know, and we trust that this will continue to further Your kingdom. May we all carry the light of the message to carry the gospel truth to a lost and dying world. That You will have many repent of their sins and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. We ask this in Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
May God be with you, my friend in Christ!
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