Have you ever heard the heart songs sung by Christians under persecution...
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
"Heart Song"
September 14, 2017
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!
~ Psalm 57:7-8 (ESV)
Have you ever heard the heart songs sung by Christians under persecution and pain?
You need not go to foreign lands to do so. The date: September 11. The place: Tower 1 of the World Trade Center, just above where the terrorist plane hit. The scene: the smoke-filled offices of Cantor Fitzgerald. The future: none.
This building and those on this floor have been marked for death by terrorists. There is no hope.
But then, through the smoke, a song was sung. It had no melody. The words did not rhyme. But it was a Christian's song. Coworkers recognized the voice of Al Braca. Normally, he was a corporate bond trader. This day he was the Lord's singer. With death minutes away, Braca made a phone call to his family. He couldn't get through. He left a message with an MCI operator: "Tell them that I love them." It took a month to deliver that part of Braca's song.
In hurried emails, in final cell phone contacts, others on the floor told of the rest. They spoke of how Braca was praying with 50 of his coworkers, how he was sharing the love of Jesus, and how they could be saved. Braca's son, Christopher, best described that song when he said "The last thing my dad did involved the two things most important to him: God and his family."
Have you heard the song Christians sing to the Savior?
Governments, institutions, educators, philosophers, mad men, and a myriad of false religions have tried to silence the song of Christ's followers. Each year, about 150,000 believers have their earthly singing stifled. In Africa, a starving mother looks at her emaciated child; a soldier holds out food. He promises to give it to her little one if she will deny Jesus. In her reply, she sings the Savior's song of salvation. Her child may die, but her baby is Jesus' baby.
Have you heard the song Christians sing to the Savior?
I would not have you think these sufferers are exceptional, extraordinary people. That would cheapen the song. No, these are the chords of men and women who -- having seen their Lord live for them, suffer for them, and die for them -- were grateful for the opportunity to say, "Jesus has saved me. I cannot deny Him." These are mortal men and women who, having seen the resurrected Christ, proudly sang, "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (See 1 Corinthians 15: 55-56).
Have you heard the song Christians sing to the Savior?
Does your life have one such song of its own? Is your song one which says, "The Lord's grace is sufficient for me. His power is made perfect in my weakness"? Do you have a song whose chorus says, "I know that my Redeemer lives; what comfort this sweet sentence gives"? What are the lyrics of your heart song to the Christ who has given all for your salvation?
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant that my entire life may be a song of praise to You and a powerful witness to those who don't know the Redeemer or His saving sacrifice. In Jesus' Name may it be so. Amen.
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
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