The bible teaches parents in Proverbs 22:6 - Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. And in today's excerpt from the book Extreme Devotion we see this principle working out beautifully. I found this devotion both inspiring and convicting. Inspiring because children really do listen and watch what parents do. Convicting because the mother in this case thought she was helping her daughter the most by denying Jesus. Read on and be blessed today.
As a parent, what would you have done in this situation? Comment.
All the prisoners were upset to see the little girl in prison with her mother. Even the prison director said, “Why don’t you take pity on your daughter? If you will give up being a Christian, you both can go home.”
The woman was understandably torn inside. She had been imprisoned with her child after protesting the arrest of her pastor, but she agreed to deny her faith to keep her daughter from suffering. Two weeks later, the Communists forced her to shout from a stage in front of ten thousand people: “I am no longer a Christian.”
On their return home, the little girl turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, today Jesus is not satisfied with you.” The mother tried to explain that she did this out of love. The little girl looked at her mother with conviction beyond her years and said, “I promise if we go to prison again for Jesus, I will not cry.”
Her mother wept, overcome with pride and love for her daughter and conviction for her own weakness. As she cried out to God for strength in a difficult decision, she went back to the prison director and said, “You convinced me to deny my faith for my daughter’s sake, but she has more courage than me.” They both returned to prison, and the little girl kept her promise.
Joshua of the Israelites faced a difficult challenge—picking up where Moses left off and leading God’s chosen people onward. Was it dangerous? Undoubtedly. Was Joshua apprehensive? Probably. Joshua received God’s promise to be with him, giving Joshua the same confidence as the child in the story. Both Joshua and the child realized early in life that they would need God’s presence to succeed. God commands us to fortify ourselves with courage and the knowledge that he will never forsake us. In the face of trials, courage often flees. In times of trouble, choose to trust God’s promise that he will be with you. Be obedient and courageous today.
