“WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD ALWAYS FOR YOU ALL, MAKING MENTION OF YOU IN OUR PRAYERS; REMEMBERING WITHOUT CEASING YOUR WORK OF FAITH, AND LABOUR OF LOVE, AND PATIENCE OF HOPE IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, IN THE SIGHT OF GOD AND OUR FATHER; KNOWING, BRETHREN BELOVED, YOUR ELECTION OF GOD.

FOR OUR GOSPEL CAME NOT UNTO YOU IN WORD ONLY, BUT ALSO IN POWER, AND IN THE HOLY GHOST, AND IN MUCH ASSURANCE; AS YE KNOW WHAT MANNER OF MEN WE WERE AMONG YOU FOR YOUR SAKE.

AND YE BECAME FOLLOWERS OF US, AND OF THE LORD, HAVING RECEIVED THE WORD IN MUCH AFFLICTION, WITH JOY OF THE HOLY GHOST.

SO THAT YE WERE ENSAMPLES TO ALL THAT BELIEVE IN MACEDONIA AND ACHAIA.

FOR FROM YOU SOUNDED OUT THE WORD OF THE LORD NOT ONLY IN MACEDONIA AND ACHAIA, BUT ALSO IN EVERY PLACE YOUR FAITH TO GOD-WARD IS SPREAD ABROAD; SO THAT WE NEED NOT TO SPEAK ANY THING.

FOR THEY THEMSELVES SHEW OF US WHAT MANNER OF ENTERING IN WE HAD UNTO YOU, AND HOW YE TURNED TO GOD FROM IDOLS TO SERVE THE LIVING AND TRUE GOD; AND TO WAIT FOR HIS SON FROM HEAVEN, WHOM HE RAISED FROM THE DEAD, EVEN JESUS, WHICH DELIVERED US FROM THE WRATH TO COME.” – 1 THESSALONIANS 1:2-10

The thing about atheists is they are tough and arrogant… until their life crumbles all around them.  Where do they go?

There is someone in my life I’ve grown apart from only because of spiritual reasons.  It wasn’t harsh or a sudden “I hate you”… but the closer I get to Jesus the more I realize I can’t talk to them or have nothing in common.  It can sting, but “things that were gain to me are counted as loss for the excellency of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord.”

One of the things God is CONSTANTLY (eye rolls) correcting me on is sarcasm, bitterness, and jealousy.  He’s delivered me, but I still can be very reactive and the ‘new creature’ steps in.  I wasn’t always that way, but learned how to be sarcastic because it was so much easier than dealing with issues.  It’s so much easier to laugh things off than deal with the problems at hand.  It’s so much more comfortable to make fun of yourself or have a quick response than to say, “Hey, no, this is a problem…”

All of that to say when times get tough who you are or who God is creating you to be is who comes out.  For instance those two paragraphs above are related.  This last week I checked in with this person to see how they were doing and hoped they were enjoying time with their family.

Their response was that someone close to them was very sick and they weren’t sure if it was the flu or Covid-19, but had a fever for days and horrible cough that wouldn’t go away.  This person who has done nothing but make fun of my faith said they were praying.  Given time to think about this situation I could’ve thought, “You’re an atheist.  Who are you praying to?  “Good luck with your future endeavors.  God only hears the prayers of a righteous person.  He doesn’t listen to unbelievers.”  “What do you want me to do about it?” “Oh, now you’re looking for God?”  “I thought my faith was as destructive as an Islamic extremist who blows themselves up?”

I could’ve thought all these things, but I didn’t.  My reactive response to their trauma was “Oh, my God! I’m so sorry!  I’ll pray!”

It didn’t matter that they were an atheist.  All our conversations that turned into mockery and rejection of a Creator didn’t matter.  It. Didn’t. Matter.  Because in this moment all I saw was the despair and I still care about this person deeply.  I know who my God is and that He is a healer.  I didn’t know what to say because anything I said would’ve been pooped on (sorry) so all I said was I would pray.  I didn’t mention how He split the seas or healed a blind man or a dead girl.  I didn’t mention that my God was crucified on a cross and walked out of that grave 3 days later.  I didn’t mention that my God created all things and is in control.

I didn’t say any of that because it didn’t matter.  All I said was, “I’ll pray.”

I prayed and I continue to pray.   I prayed that God would heal their loved one and let them be ok and that God would use this for His glory to soften this person’s heart toward Him.  I prayed they would turn their eyes to Jesus and come to know salvation through the blood of a spotless lamb who died FOR them.

Every day they send updates and state to “Keep praying” and thanking me for my concern and my response is “I never stopped.”

Who do they run to when their world falls apart?

It’s the very people they spit upon.

“LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.” – MATTHEW 5:16

It’s in this moment I learned what it means that “They will know we are Christians by our love”.

“BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, BLESS THEM THAT CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THEM THAT HATE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THEM WHICH DESPITEFULLY USE YOU, AND PERSECUTE YOU…” – MATTHEW 5:44