Show Off

"For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it, and if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it. What does it profit you to gain the whole world while you destroy and lose yourself? If someone feels ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory." - Luke 9:24-26

In 1928, a fourteen year old boy named Jose Sanchez del Rio was persecuted for his faith. The boy lived in Mexico during a time when the government was very anti-Catholic. Jose wanted to practice his faith and encouraged others to pray openly. One day, government officials arrested him and shaved off the bottoms of his feet. They put him out on the street and made him walk across town towards a cementary on his bare feet. Once at the cementary, the officials told him that if he would just renounce his faith in Jesus Christ, they would let him return home to his family and not bother him anymore. The fourteen year old then imitated the form of a cross and shouted out, "Long live Christ the King!" and was shot in the head. Jose Sanchez del Rio died for the freedom to show off his faith.

Now, let's fast forward to just 80 years later to today, a time when we're lucky to have the privelege to practice our faith openly without fear or pressure. We have the honor, an honor Jose and many others suffered for, to show the world what we believe…to show people what our souls consist of; the richness of our values and beliefs, the stuff that makes us good people. So how do we express this? What do we choose to show the world about ourselves? A good way to examine this is something as simple as our MySpace page or Facebook profile. What do people take away from that? Maybe they can see you're a football fan and are a Pisces, what school you go to and who your friends are, especially what your favorite drink is because you're showing it off in your main pic. But do you show off your faith? Do you show the world that you believe in Christ Jesus and try to live a life of integrity? Or will they see things that maybe compromise that faith? Can you honestly say that you represent a faith in Christ and if you do, does He fit with everything else you're trying to show off about yourself? Many people have suffered and died to have the freedom we have today, to stand up for the things that are truly important. What are you standing up for? What sets you apart from people with no values, no morals, no beliefs…no faith? And if you say that a lot sets you apart, then show it! Let it be known to everyone that who you are first, before anything else, is a child of the Most High God, not just another empty, shallow person lost in this world.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You came so that we may have life in abundance. Your desire is to give us a whole and complete life that we can share with others. Help us see what is really important. Help us follow and stand for what really matters instead of losing our beliefs for meaningless things. In Your Name we pray, amen.