DAY 9 -

James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."

I wonder if my passion and courage would be any different if I had to suffer 'physical' torture?  It recently occurred to me that my brothers in Christ all over the planet suffer unbelievable physical and psychological turmoil, much more than we do here in America.

Kevin, my friend and incredible missionary to Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Kenya, has experienced first hand the effects of such persecution.  He mentions,  "...it's an attempt to have these beautiful people turn from their faith and deny Christ."

Africa's battlefield seems to be more of a physical fight in the name of spiritual progress.  However, our battlefield is much different.  Our battlefield, in America, is not one of physical and psychological torture as much as it is mental and spiritual torture.  Let me explain... the enemy, satan, as seemingly figured out how to lull the West into a drowsy spiritual stupor, comfortable, and in many cases it's weekend our convictions.  Understand that I believe America and the amazing people of this great country have a critical role to play in God's divine plan and our freedom has come at a tremendous cost.  But somehow, the battlefield has become more internal and less external for us and it's created a false sense of security.

After having coffee with Kevin and a few other friends in Nairobi, I was able to slip out into the Mara for a few days to experience the natural beauty and wildlife of Africa.  We stopped about fifteen feet away from two black maned lions to take a few photos.  As I pocked my head throughout the roof of our vehicle, it seemed boring and uneventful.  The King of the jungle was right in front of me and my heart was steady on sixty-six beats per minute while they yawned and fell in and out of their afternoon cat-nap.  In a moment of zero common sense I decided to make annoying gestures and quick movements to foster a response.  Well, a response is what I got!  The lions, in a matter of nano seconds sprang to their feet, made deep grunt, and began to burn a whole through our vehicle with their stare.  Lets just say that as fast as they jumped up, I jumped into our truck, had every window rolled up, and was sitting like my children do when they know they've screwed up.  I will never underestimate being in the wild again!

Here's my point.   Even those of us who are passionate and willing to die everyday to self, take up our cross and follow Christ, seem to forget at times that this is warfare.  It's life or death.  It's eternal salvation or eternal damnation.  We don't wrestle with physical things as much as those on the mission fields.  This is why Paul explains to us all in Ephesians 6:12 that the battle we need to pay more attention to is not the physical, although it's certainly important, but the spiritual battle for your soul.

Are you prepared for this battle?  If not revisit Devotional DAY 5, by Greg Beggs, missionary to Tanzania and Kenya.

Let's wake up and pay attention!