You can read today's passage by clicking here
The Holocaust is one of the darkest periods of modern history. Many historians believe more than 6 million Jews died at the hands of the Nazi regime. One charismatic leader with enormous power was able to hijack a nation's moral compass, and they chose to follow blindly down a devastating path. By the time men and women attempted to stand up to Hitler's regime and speak out, it was too late. Listen to Martin Niemoller, a German theologian and Lutheran Pastor:
"First they came for the Communists but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out; Then they came for the Socialists and Trade Unionists but I was not one of them, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews but I was not Jewish, so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me."
Martin Niemöller stood up against the Nazi regime. He was imprisoned in Sachsenhausen and Dachau concentration camps from 1937 to 1945. Martin Niemöller is a celebrated pacifist, and even after his death in 1984, is fondly remembered as a bright light in a dark time. But Martin Niemöller's own confession leads me to ask several questions.
Why didn't people speak out? Why didn't Christ-followers take a stand. Where were the courageous? Where were those with a spine? Why didn't we stand up sooner? I wonder if Martin Niemöller felt like he missed the opportunity to do what was right sooner?
2400+ years before the Holocaust the Jews were on the verge of being wiped out. A young Jewish woman sat on the throne as Queen of Persia when her surrogate father came to her, pleading for her to stand up! "Who knows? Maybe you were made queen for just such a time as this," he begged. Queen Esther did, and God saved his people, because one voice chose to speak up.
What opportunities and decisions are facing you right now? Is there anyone you need to stand up for? What is a God-sized risk that you need to take?
Who knows? Maybe you were made for just such a time as this.
No comments:
Post a Comment