“Be faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life” Rev. 2:11.

It is reported that when one of the early church leaders was burned at the stake because he refused to deny Christ, he said, “Now I begin to be a Christian.” He wasn’t making a doctrinal statement. We become Christians when we place our trust in Christ as Savior and Lord. Instead, he was implying that the real test had come. He was being tried to the far reaches of his soul.

The Bible teaches that even the most godly will undergo severe trials. It doesn’t mean God doesn’t love us. It means He has more to give us, things more wonderful than our temporary suffering. Jesus suffered and died on the cross. The three Hebrew men were thrown into the fiery furnace. Daniel was placed in the lion’s den. Family may turn against the believer and the Devil may attack through temptation but the testing lays bare for us the areas of our life that we haven’t given proper attention to or yielded to Christ.

We are shown that our instability requires firmness of faith and our demand to be in control must yield to obedient surrender. Our devotion to Him must be deepened. The Lord’s plan is to give us more of His grace and glory, though it may cause us deep sorrow. Jesus gave us a wonderful example when He uttered the words to His Father, “Not my will, but Thine be done”.

Pastor Greg Brownell

United Brethren Church

Dayton