In honor of Matthew West‘s new album that drops tomorrow, I wanted to share a throwback from one of my favorite West singles, Do Something. I was surprised to see that this song came out 8 years ago! Below is the lyric videos because the words moved me when I first heard them, but it took me these last eight years to finally do something that might make a difference. Make 2020 the year you do something!

February 13

²⁴She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

²⁵At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request:  “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”  (Mark 6:24-25)

This is a brutally tragic story from Mark Chapter 6.  I wanted to include this because it serves as a reminder that being a Christian was once a very deadly faith to proclaim.  John the Baptist was technically not a Christian.  He was a radical Jew that was preaching a much different message than the religious leaders of that time.  He validated the worth of Jesus, but we only here about him in a handful of stories in the Gospels.  John knew his purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus, not just to baptize Jesus, but to consistently preach a message that the Messiah had arrived in Jesus Christ.  His radical, passionate sermons landed him in Herod’s jail, which would eventually lead to this moment where Herod grants the request of a young woman to cut off John’s head.

Many early Christians faced similar brutalities:  beheadings, stoning, crucifixion, hanging, burning.  Despite these dangers, the Christian faith persevered because Christians know they follow the Son of God and Jesus has marked a place for eternity for those who believe and walk with him.

 There are still places in the world where Christians face severe persecution.  America has become a safe place for Christianity to flourish, but our purpose as Americans is not to be comfortable in our safe place.  God led Christianity to this side of the world to allow it to grow and strengthen, to set the example to the world on how to live a Christian life.  Is America doing that now?  What steps in your life can you change to show the world that you are a Christian walking in faith?

Reading plan:  Mark 8:22-38

Deeper reading plan:  Deuteronomy 10-12

Prayer and meditation:  continue to pray for your request from day 1 and pray for those who still face persecution for being a Christian.

Fitness challenge:  Cardio day, 14-21 minutes of continual running at a moderate pace.