[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during April 2023]
We live in an increasingly secular world where the expectations that people have often compete with our responsibilities as Christians. Are we being invited to events on Sundays when we ought to be devoting that time to worshipping God? Does our commitment to the church compromise our full participation in popular sports or hobbies? Or, perhaps, vice versa.
It can be difficult to maintain our Christian faith in a society that does not share or understand our commitment. Devotion to a football team – even the wrong football team – is seen as acceptable while devotion to God is not.
Do you feel like a pilgrim in an alien land, on your own with no one to share your beliefs? Certainly, Naaman might have felt that way. We can read his story in the second book of Kings where we learn that Naaman was a senior officer in the army of the king of Aram in around 849BC. He was successful as an army officer and was highly appreciated by both the king and those who worked for him. We are familiar with how he was cured of leprosy after the prophet Elisha told him to bathe in the river Jordan – an experience that Naaman found to be somewhat distasteful.
Nevertheless, having been cured, Naaman returned to his post in the court of Aram as a believer in the God of Israel, initially at least as the only believer in that country. He wanted to continue to worship God but he recognised that some of his duties might be seen to compromise that commitment. Those of us who are in a similar situation can draw encouragement from Elisha’s advice to be at peace with the situation.
Elijah had a similar feeling of being the only believer left; in an attack of depression after the great demonstration of God’s power over the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel, he cried out to God “I alone am left; and they seek to take my life”. What was God’s response?
Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him. 1 Kings 19 v18 [NIVUK]
There may be times when we feel that we are the only Christian in our community. It is likely that there are other Christians nearby but you have not recognised them. Could it be that other Christians with similar feelings have not been able to recognise you? Jesus suggested one characteristic to look out for, or demonstrate ourselves:
By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another. John 13 v35 [AMP]
It is said that actions speak louder than words. Whether we are aware of it or not, our behaviour sends a message to those around us. As Francis of Assisi said: “The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”.
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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
