Isaiah 50:5-7 (NIV) - “I offered my back to those who beat me,my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. “

“I could see by the crowd that it was going to be a real confrontation… I wanted to show that I was not impressed with all these crazy people and that I was definitely not impressed with Satan, whose name I could hear them chanting.

I decided to start the concert by singing a worship song, acappella. This is not the normal way to begin after a death metal band, but I tried my best to sound like Amy Grant as I launched into, ‘I love you, Lord and I lift my voice…’. I closed my eyes amid the screams of the crowd, and began to imagine beer bottles flying through the air… I shuddered as I envisioned someone jumping up on the stage and kicking me in the face with his heavy boot. It took all my courage to finish the song.

As I opened my eyes and our band started their opening riff… I realized that people were spitting all over me.” (David Pierce, Rock Priest, p. 15)

We may or may not be able to imagine ourselves in such a hostile environment where people are spitting on us because of our loyalty to Christ. But rather than focusing on yourself, fix your eyes on Christ today. Be amazed at what he did for us. All our sin, shame, hatred… he bore it all in his body and was crucified… and then He rose again so that we may live a new life in Him. Lift your voices!

-JP