Modern day martyr very close to home.

Good morning. It is Monday, January 31, 2011 and we are thankful to be up and going as we begin a brand new day and a brand new work week. When we think of Christian martyrs we often have in mind those burned at the stake for their faith or someone who was killed in deepest darkest Africa. Last week we learned the heart breaking, gut wrenching, sad, but also uplifting testimony of a dear lady killed just 70 miles south of the U. S. border with Mexico. Sam and Nancy Davis have spent the past thirty years bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Mexican masses with a special emphasis on helping to plant new Churches. Mexico has become one of the most dangerous places in the world. The drug cartels rule and reign in some areas and they are well funded, well armed, and often well connected within the political world. Last week these dear people were going about their business when they were attacked by those who wanted to take away from them their pickup truck. Nancy was shot in the head. Sam was finally able to evade and he survived. Those who know these people say they were well aware of the dangers and they had experienced close calls before but their calling was first in their lives. My response when I heard about this was one of tearful and respectful sadness for these wonderful saints along with some fury about those who would do such a sickening deed. May God bless the memory of this dear lady and may God bring justice to those who took her life. The attacks against our Christian brothers and sisters around the world are on the increase. Sadly, many of the countries we pour our tax dollars into in the form of foreign aid are the worst offenders. Pray for those like the Davis' who are willing to risk their lives for the cause of Christ as they serve as role models for us who are also called to share our faith with others.

I didn't mean to start our day off with a downer but I've had these folks on my mind for over a week and when it keeps coming up, I typically know I need to share. In my mind's eye I see this lady in the presence of the Lord she served as He welcomed her home. No doubt there were many brown skinned believers who were there to greet her, with many more yet to arrive home. That's why the home going of any person of faith is never the end of the story. In many respects, it's only the beginning for those who receive the reward that comes from them having placed their faith in God's provision, that being the payment for sin made by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We so often talk about heaven as if it is a way out there, somewhere, some day kind of mystic vision. It is, for all those who are believers, a very real and living part of our day by day goings and comings. It's promotion day. It's reunion time. It's beyond anything we might be able to comprehend but it is ours to apprehend by faith. Our faith confirmed by God through His Spirit makes this, not a leap into the dark, but rather, it is the realization of the guaranteed hope we have in our Great God. Amen.

I will tell you that I do get stirred up when something like this tragic murder occurs. The Bible tells us that the wrath of man does not accomplish the will of God, therefore, I have to be reminded that it is okay to be angry but not in a way that it becomes sinful. This illegal drug trade is a killer, not just in this case, but many of our children, our family, our fellow citizens, are destroyed each and every year as a result. The politicians say there would be no trade unless there was a demand and we here in the states are working the demand side. There's truth to this but there's also those who are finding ways to hook new customers every day. Billions of dollars are spent every year by our government on the so-called war on drugs but as the story unfolds, little is accomplished. As I thought about this dear lady and her testimony, my anger turned to praise. This lady made all the news channels and many of the reports of her death were accompanied by glimpses into her testimony for her Lord. Even in the big newspaper her son was quoted in talking about her love for God and the Mexican people. Therefore, even as we call it a tragedy God used it as a triumph in reminding the world of Him and His love through people on behalf of reaching them so that they might live with Him forever. Thank God for this sweet lady's testimony and may we all be encouraged to live in a way that brings honor to His name when we exit our life here. Amen.                .....More later.