Psalm 25:1-3

I offer my life to you, Lord.

My God, I trust you.

Please don’t let me be put to shame!

    Don’t let my enemies rejoice over me!

For that matter,

    don’t let anyone who hopes in you

        be put to shame;

    instead, let those who are treacherous without excuse

 be put to shame.

     The message of today's Scripture is direct and candid, and it directly applies to current events.  I cannot imagine that any Christian has not been affected by the news of widespread persecution in Iraq this last week or so.  And Evil has never been more insistent that it wishes to bring that wickedness to our shores.  Such hostility has always been directed towards those who worship Jehovah.  But we American Christians have always resided in relative safety.  So now we must begin asking the question, "What does it take to remain faithful amidst terrible persecution?"  Could we endure the imprisonment, the torture, and the death that is coming to Christians worldwide?

     These verses are a Psalm from King David in which we can hear his heart and his plea to stand strong in the face of his enemies.  There is no known historical event that is the basis for this Psalm, so it is applicable to all people of all generations who can relate to the feelings of David.

     I think my greatest fear is that when confronted with actual physical persecution, that I will fail my God; that my enemies will be able to ridicule my faith and that I will stand ashamed before Him.  When confronted with such terror, I have no doubt that I will cry out, like the Psalmist, offering my soul to my God.  I will have to trust in Him, because I will not be able to trust in myself.  

     I want to be determined and unwavering in declaring my allegiance to the one true God of the Universe; and so I earnestly pray that I will not shame myself, or Him.  I realize that the hope in my life is in God, and it will be His strength and power that will see me through any trial or persecution.

     And like David, I beseech the Lord to bring shame upon my enemies; the ones who "deal treacherously without cause."  So I will trust in Him to deliver me and to preserve me, while offering my life in His name, if need be.  And if it comes to that, my life is the most precious thing I can offer my God in return for all He has done for me.  I pray for the same strength of honor in the lives of all my fellow Christians.  Glory to our Lord!