September 1
Faith
in the Fire
"Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of me. You are also blessed when they tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me.
Be joyful and glad. Your reward in heaven is great. In the same way, people hurt the prophets who lived long ago."
Matthew 5:10-12 (NIrV)
Brian stood on the corner of the busy city street, his Bible held firmly in one hand, his voice steady but kind. The lunchtime crowd bustled past him, some throwing glances of curiosity, others rolling their eyes in irritation. He had been preaching on this corner for years, rain or shine, lifting up the name of Jesus to anyone who would listen.
Not everyone appreciated his presence.
A man named Callum stood nearby, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his worn hoodie, watching Brian with a smirk. Every time he saw the preacher, something inside him burned. He didn’t know why—maybe it was the way Brian stood there, unshaken by the world, or the way he spoke of a love Callum had never felt. Whatever it was, it made him angry.
"You’re wasting your breath, old man!" Callum jeered, stepping closer. "No one cares about your fairytales!"
Brian turned toward him, his eyes gentle. "God cares about you, son. More than you know."
Callum scoffed and, before he even realized what he was doing, he spat at Brian’s feet. A few people in the crowd gasped. Brian didn’t flinch. He simply wiped his shoe on the curb and looked back at Callum with something the younger man didn’t expect—compassion.
"I’ve been where you are," Brian said softly. "Angry, lost, pushing away the very thing I needed most."
"Shut up," Callum snapped, his chest tightening. He wanted Brian to yell back, to get mad, to react. But he didn’t.
Instead, Brian closed his eyes and whispered a prayer. "Lord, bless this man. Open his heart to Your love."
Callum’s fists clenched, but he felt an unexpected weight settle in his chest. He had come here to mock Brian, to tear him down, but all he had done was expose something hollow inside himself.
Later that night, Callum lay awake, Brian’s words repeating in his head. He didn’t understand why, but for the first time in years, he whispered into the darkness, "God, if You’re real... show me."
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for the strength to stand firm in faith, even when the world pushes back.
Help us to respond to hatred with love, to insults with kindness, and to rejection with perseverance.
Give us courage like Brian, and soften the hearts of those like Callum who are searching for You, even when they don’t realize it.
May we trust in Your promise that every trial for Your sake is a blessing in disguise.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
