Austin has been hot lately - the 100s have been the norm for a good while now. Supposedly we’re about to have a turn for some relatively cooler weather. It’s amazing how easy it is to get excited about 92 when it’s been 102 or higher for what seems like weeks. In most parts north - 92 is always hot and never considered “relatively cool.” God has designed us it seems so that we can get acclimated (to a certain degree) and that which would be uncomfortable for most becomes, if not comfortable, a welcome respite.

Life is like this. There are Christians in other lands that believe that living the faith equates to bleeding for Christ. For us in America, this is an unfathomable lifestyle. Here in the land of the free and the home of the brave, we are in bondage to our way of life and afraid someone will try to take it from us. That is neither freedom nor bravery.

That is not to say that I do not count myself as blessed to live in this great nation. I love my country. I am proud that there have been men and women who have shown great bravery to protect the freedoms that we all cherish (though I must pessimistically add that most of us have crossed over into considering our freedoms to be entitlements). We have lost our way it seems. Comforts have taken their place as the great goal of life.

What does this mean for the American Christian? How should this inform and affect our choices? Love where God has placed you. While it is impossible for you to truly fathom what others experience in a place where there is no such thing as freedom or in a place where Christians are put to death for their beliefs - it is not impossible for you to have faith that God knows what He is doing. If you call upon the name of Christ and have trusted Him as your Savior… the faith you need has already been provided by the Holy Spirit.

Love where God has placed you. If you, like me, prefer colder climes but God has placed you in the midst of 100 degree weather… trust Him to change your heart so that the burden of heat becomes a blessing. If you would prefer a safer place to raise your children and God has placed you in a crime ridden area… trust Him to provide hope in the midst of that dark place. If you would prefer a picturesque retirement community in the country but God has placed you in the midst of a loud and obnoxious city… trust Him to give you quiet in the midst of the noise.

God does not make mistakes and you have not been placed where you are in vain. Wherever you are, God has called you there for this season at this time. Even if He has called you elsewhere… until He moves you, He’s called you where you are. Love where God has placed you because the place you are in is crying out for Him whether they know it or not. Love where God has placed you because love is the vessel through which God will pour your life out to reveal His glory and bring His own back to Himself. Love where God has placed you simply because it is Him who has placed you there.

Let us pray for faith. Let us pray for courage. Let us pray that God will place within our hearts a burden for where he has placed us: home, work, or play. Let us pray for insight into the lives of the people we encounter. Let us pray for humility to love the people we’re with every day with the love of Christ. Let us pray for courage to reveal to these people the glory of the Father by showing them His son Jesus. Let us pray for our neighbors, our coworkers, and our friends that God would see fit to reveal Himself to them in a mighty way and that we, in some way, might be instrumental in that revelation. Not for our glory, but for the privilege of participating in what only He can do… save the dead and cause them to be born again into life.