Picking Up the Torch of CHARLIE KIRK

It has been a tragic week and my heart breaks for the family of Charlie Kirk. He was a man of great faith, courage and boldness. Charlie was a patriot who stood up for the Godly values upon which America was founded. He was a strong supporter of Israel and the Jewish people. He stood boldly for life, for family, for God and the truth of the bible.

With the inspiring example he set forth, Charlie has illuminated a path for the rest of us. It is up to us to pick up where he left off and carry the torch, shining the light for all to see. How do we embark on such a mission? Where do we begin?

First, God tells us to overcome evil with good. We read in Romans 12:17-21,
[17] Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. [18] If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. [19] Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. [20] On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” [21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

By doing what is right, living peacefully, and doing good, we shine the light that overcomes darkness and evil.

Next, we must pray for boldness to speak the truth. In Acts 4:31, Peter and John prayed for that boldness. We read, "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

When we ask God, He will give us the power to speak the truth boldly in order to squelch and wipe out evil. And He will give us the words to speak as we read in Matthew 10:19-20,

"Do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

We also need to be wise in how we interact with others. James 1:5 teaches us that if we lack wisdom, ask to God and it will be given. With that wisdom we can know how to be effective in our conversations. We read in Colossians 4:5-6,

[5] Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. [6] Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

And 1 Peter 3:15-16 tells us, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

We must be prepared to give answers. We cannot go in blindly. To know the truth of God, we must read God's Word. The Holy Spirit will pop up the scriptures in our thoughts exactly when we need them, but we have to read scripture to have them in our mind.

Next, we must not be afraid. God didn't give us a spirit of fear as we read in 2 Timothy 1:7-8,
[7] For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. [8] So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord.

And God is beside us every step of the way as we stand in His truth boldly. He tells us in Isaiah 41:10, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Many of us may not feel qualified to take up Charlie's torch. But as God's children, we are fully qualified and equipped. We read in 2 Peter 1:3 that God's "divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him."

Like I shared in last week's devotional, God has given us everything we need through His Son, His Holy Word and His Holy Spirit. With God, we are qualified to take up the torch!

Even Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men, but God equipped them as we read in Acts 4:13,
“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures.”

The Spirit which filled Charlie is the same Holy Spirit that is fills each one of us. We all are united by that same Spirit and empowered by that same Spirit. It is that same Spirit by which we have access to the same boldness, wisdom, courage, peace, love, gentleness and effectiveness as Charlie Kirk.

God has blessed each one of us with individual skills and talents which may be different than those of Charlie Kirk, but the power and effectiveness we have through the Holy Spirit is the same.

So pick up the torch of Charlie Kirk. Pick up where he left off. Stand tall with courage and victory in Jesus Christ. Shine your light for all to see. Tell God, "Here I Am". Lead me, guide me and ignite me.
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