Challenge: Sounding Forth

You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.  For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.  1 Thes 1:6-8 NASB

I was saved at age seven, the daughter of a seminary student and soon to be missionary.  We dealt with the lack of finances and praying for provision on a day to day basis that so many seminary families deal with.  But, when I think of tribulation, I can’t really say that there was any.  My father was free to pursue his education.  My family was free to attend church.  We had no constraints from society or government.  No real tribulation.  That’s how I received the Word of God. 

How would I have responded in the middle of tribulation?  I was so young.  How would I have responded?

I have the incredible blessing of never having to find out the answer to that question.  But even as I continue my journey through life relatively free from any real tribulation, I am challenged to let my joy and witness shine forth all the more brilliantly because of my freedom.  I am so complacent!  I am not ambitious to hunger for the Word of the Lord to sound forth from me to such an extreme that people for miles around already know the message.  I am challenged to see that changed.

I have such freedom, and I use it to live such a narrow life.  May it no longer be so!  And, when the tribulation does come – and I know it will – may my light then shine ever brighter.