I love the Passion bible’s depiction of faith being the ‘wrap around shield’ (see Ephesians 6:16 TPTbible) . Someone reminded me of this today which has prompted this piece .
Yesterday I was at hospital for treatment . It’s only 10 minutes now instead of 2hours so it’s great . We were in a bay. We were talking Carribean food, scotch bonnet (pepper) and Ganga …. Two black nurses , myself and a white man who was given ‘ganja’ in Barbados which had blown his head off (so to speak) . He renamed our bay 1 , ‘Caribbean Bay’. We laughed and laughed. There was so much joy and merriment.
He reminded me I had told him I was a Christian as we shared stories of our diagnosis and our feelings . It was my stance (which I believe is faith personified) . He remembered!! He said he would have died but for the advancement with his melanoma – something the doctors missed despite a number of physical checks . He had caught this from the sun on his back .
We also talked about the scaremongering that had happened with the Covid vaccination and how people had been influenced . I gave him my opinion . I said I hadn’t wanted to take it either but my stance was my faith in God to determine the time and whether this vaccine or virus or cancer or an accident would be the thing that takes me out. I said it is for Him to know and to offer protection as a loving Father, if indeed it would be a premature departure and we pray for protection . I also said I don’t condemn anyone not talking the vaccine either that decision is for them .
He was amazed at my confidence and resolve and it was here he reminded me I had said I was a Christian . The interesting thing is I can’t remember sharing that with him, but I believe the ‘wrap around faith ‘ is evident as we walk , sit, speak , talk and laugh . They know there is something different .
We as Christians are ‘ever ready batteries’ if you like . I walk up the hospital corridor as an ambassador and as a soldier . I feel dressed …🙃. I know who I am. I don’t go to preach but I SPEAK and I know I am here , I am there … for a reason. Our lives are the message people read as Paul has opined in 2 Corinthian 3:2-3
“Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart
2 Corinthians 3:2-3.
May the Spirit of the living God work through your circumstance today . Let his wrap around shield of faith sustain you in every decision making, in every news, in every good or bad report .
God bless You
Evangelist Linda J UK
21/1/22