Shock Troops
Theme of the Week: Sacrifice or Safety?
Gordon MacDonald
Monday, February 16, 2004
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Key Bible Verse: They were too good for this world (Hebrews 11:38). Bonus Reading:Hebrews 11:33–39a
Back in the 7th and 8th centuries, Christianity virtually died in Europe. Organized Christianity collapsed with the collapse of the Roman Empire. The only place in the western world where Christianity was of any influence was in Ireland, as it was preached by the Irish monks. They expressed their extreme faith by getting into little boats and putting out to sea, trusting that wherever the current led them was where God wanted them to go. Many, of course, perished. It was, in my thinking, a dumb way to express your faith. But those who landed on the shores of the European continent preached the gospel. You can find great monasteries in Europe today that were founded by Irish monks in that period–including the monastery where Francis of Assisi was converted.
Before the monk Brendan embarked upon the seas, he's said to have prayed, "Shall I abandon, O King of mysteries, the soft comforts of home? Shall I turn my back on my native land? &… Shall I put myself wholly at the mercy of God, without silver, a horse, a sword and shield, food and drink, a bed to lie on? &… O Christ, will you help me on the wild waves?"
–Gordon MacDonald in PreachingToday
My Response: Do I find this kind of abandonment repelling or attractive? Why?
Thought to Apply: If you have people who will come [to Africa] only if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men and women who are willing to come if there is no road at all.
–David Livingstone
Adapted from Preaching Today (235) by permission.
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Lord Jesus, You've called me to shoulder my cross and follow You. Give me the guts to do it.
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