Living Strong

He has made his people strong, honouring his faithful ones. (Psalm 148:14)

In 2024, the Olympic Games returns to Paris. One hundred years ago, Paris hosted these same games and a young athlete, one of the the fastest, if not the fastest runner on the planet at the time, made National headlines for a race he never ran! 

Eric Liddell, a committed Christian, decided not to race in the 100m as the heats took place on a Sunday. His obedience to God was of higher importance than winning a gold medal. He chose to be one of God’s ‘faithful ones’, despite huge pressure to run. Subsequently, God honoured this faithful man when, against the odds, Eric went on to win gold in the 400 metres race, not his strongest discipline. 

Evangelist and writer Cannon J John, has just published his second volume of ‘Heroes of the Faith’, a book which gives brief biographical sketches of 60 of God’s ‘faithful ones’. They chose faithfulness over fame, discipline over defiance, purity over perversion and integrity over iniquity.  God “made his people strong” as they obediently served Him.  Many were honoured with much fruit for God in their lifetime.

In the  Great Commission, Jesus says to his disciples:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19,20)

If  you want to be one of God’s ‘strong’ people, the path to victory is the same as those ‘heroes’ who have gone before us. You must learn to  lovingly, willingly and eagerly ‘obey everything’ He commands you . There may be no gold medals, but you won’t be disappointed! 
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“Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Pauline Anderson