"Feed the Flock": "Coals of Fire"

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 8
Tom was drafted into the army during World War II. His profane language and unruly ways soon earned him an unenviable reputation in the barracks as a godless bully. Some weeks after Tom’s induction, another soldier was added to his company. But this young man was as quiet, circumspect and sober as Tom was vulgar and disorderly.
It soon became evident to all in the company that the new recruit was a Christian. While he said little, each night before going to bed he knelt down beside his cot and prayed. There were the customary hoots and catcalls and jests. But Tom wasn’t satisfied with that. In his hatred of the soldier’s Christianity—especially of his evening prayers—he vowed to carry his verbal tormenting even further.
The next evening, when the Christian was again on his knees praying, Tom quickly removed one of his boots and, taking careful aim, threw it with a curse at the kneeling soldier. The boot landed with a solid thud against his side, causing the Christian to wince and catch his breath. But without even lifting his head, he continued to pray.
Further enraged, Tom removed his other boot and hurled it with as much force as he could muster. The boot struck the Christian a terrible blow on the side of his face. He shuddered and gasped in pain as blood trickled down his cheek. But again without opening his eyes, he remained on his knees.
Tired of the assault for that evening, Tom went to sleep. At reveille next morning he hopped out of bed. Remembering his boots, he looked over at the Christian’s bunk searching for where they had landed. And he found them, but not where he had hurled them the night before. Now they were neatly placed together—beautifully polished—at the end of his own bunk! It was not long after, that the love of Christ flooded Tom’s dark, sinful heart, and he was brightly saved.
We who live in well-favored western countries must not think that persecution for the name of Jesus only happens in “foreign lands.” It takes place wherever that blessed name is honored. We face an enemy who will stop at nothing—whether corruption and violence or friendship and succor—to stamp out the name of Christ. May we seek grace to move and act in Christ’s love towards those who persecute us for His name’s sake (Luke 6:27-2827But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. (Luke 6:27‑28)).
We are to expect such treatment (2 Tim. 3:1212Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)), and we are not to wonder at the world’s hatred (1 John 3:1313Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. (1 John 3:13)). In 2 Samuel 16:5-145And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. 6And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 8The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. 9Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. 10And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? 11And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him. 12It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day. 13And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. 14And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there. (2 Samuel 16:5‑14) we read of those that followed the king in his rejection. They felt the curses, stones and dust that were cast at David by the wicked Shimei. The more closely we follow the Lord Jesus in this world, the more we will feel all the insults and persecutions that the enemy casts at His blessed, peerless Person.
Ed.