Devotion

They Will Scatter

Frances Taylor 

How well Jesus knew human nature. Self-preservation is strong within each of us. His disciples were afraid and ran away when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus and stayed away for fear that they too would be crucified. I'm so glad that I don't have to face that challenge. However, there are still people who do face death for being a Christian. More frequent are times when standing up for our beliefs can lose us friends, jobs and even members of our families. We then have choices to make, do we give in and lose respect for ourselves, or do we accept the consequences of standing firm. I knew a woman who refused to accept help to outfit a soup kitchen because she disagreed with the firm's involvement in making weapons for the military. People have lost their jobs for demonstrating against pollution, racial injustice, or for equal pay for women, equal opportunities for jobs, affordable housing, education for all. When we fight for justice, we can run into problems, but this is what we are called to do. Some will scatter, and some will stand firm. Which will I be? Which will you?

Prayer 

Lord, it is often easier to walk away from the challenges of following you. Give us the strength to stand firm in our faith and live as you would have us live. Amen.