Maybe you recently saw the pictures of the 21 young
Egyptian Coptic Christians in orange jumpsuits on the shores of Libya. Behind
each man is a hooded radical Islamist holding a knife. Attempts were made to
persuade each man to deny Jesus in order to live. As you look at the picture,
and think about ISIS, you know what is coming next. It is easy to think martyrdom
is only in the history books. Nothing could be further from the truth.
It turns out that only 20 were Egyptian Christians. It
has only recently been made public who the 21st man was. Coptic Fr.
Thomas Philipose fills us in on who is the mystery man. “He was a Chadian Citizen
(darker skin shown in picture) who accepted Christianity after seeing the
immense faith of his fellow Coptic Christians dying for Christ. When the
Islamic State Terrorist forced him to reject Jesus Christ as God, looking at
his Christian friends, he replied, ‘Their God is my God, so the terrorist
beheaded him also.’” Think
about the faith, shining through those 20 Christ followers who made a
non-believer, a true believer in Christ, even at the point of death.
I’m inspired by the impact of the 20 on the 21st
man. Faced not with the threat of death but with the guarantee of death they
sang songs and rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of
Jesus. Twenty men in their twenties making $3-4 an hour in a land far from home
got caught in the web of ISIS and impressed the 21st man so much
that he was compelled to trust Jesus. Back in the boys’ hometown the families
and church grieve but say they forgive ISIS. The women congratulate each other
that their boys would not deny the Lord and they experience a measure of joy at
their martyrdom.
This story of
the 21st man blows me away. May the blood of the martyrs once again be the seed
of the church. Cardinal George of Chicago said, "I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor
will die a martyr in the public square.” Don’t be surprised by increased
persecution in the United States. In Acts 5:42, despite persecution, jail and
floggings, the disciples rejoiced they were counted “worthy to suffer for His
name.” We do not have to win in this world to win in the next, but God often
works powerfully through those who suffer well. The Cardinal went on to say, “His successor will pick up the shards of a
ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization as the church has done so
often in human history.”
How did the
small marginalized Jesus movement 2000 years ago grow 40% a year for 250 years
and turn the world upside down? Not through the power of politics but through
the one who overcame the tomb and who still reigns. The Kingdom can do well
with or without Caesar’s cooperation. Augustine said, “The city of God does not depend on the city of man for its existence
and strength.” Do I hear an AMEN? So many people need to hear the Gospel!!
I think the
21st man heard and saw the Gospel!!
Be
Thou My Vision Hymn
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save
that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord,
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight; Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight,
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower: Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine Inheritance, now and always,
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won, May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befalls, Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord,
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight; Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight,
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower: Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine Inheritance, now and always,
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won, May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befalls, Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
~Old
Irish Song attributed to Saint Dallan Forgaill, sixth century
Special Upcoming Ministry Speaking and
Opportunities:
March
6 Capitol Coalition
March
11 Leadership St. Tammany
March
12 Southshore Leader Forum
March
12 Media Training Day
March
13 Louisiana Dental
March
19 Northshore Leader Forum
March
19-22 Forcey Bible Missions
Conference
March
28 A Day of Grace
April
3-5 Officers Christian
Fellowship Retreat
April
3-June 11 Louisiana Legislative Session
April
7 Lobbyist Study resumes
April
9 Legislators Study
resumes
April
10 Mayor’s North shore
Prayer Breakfast
April
15 Governor’s Prayer
Breakfast with Ravi Zacharias
Bible Studies
are held daily except Saturdays
Betting the
Farm on God,
Michael
