For those of us who fall into the above category and who believe we understand the heart of God on the issue of abortion, what impact has our position made on our culture? Have our personal or collective beliefs, convictions and rhetoric made any dent in curbing the number of abortions conducted every year? Since the Rowe vs. Wade decision in 1973, we—as a nation—have the blood of over 54,000,000 babies on our hands. When is enough, enough? When will we realize that our personal and even collective position on abortion, in and of itself, makes no strategic difference? We must speak up.

Recently, I was reading the book, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Erick Metaxas and Timothy Keller. Much more than a biography, the book also recounts the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party in Germany and the human rights atrocities they were committing. Then, I landed on the following quote. Count Helmut von Moltke, a committed follower of Christ, after documenting many human rights abuses that were being committed by the Nazi regime, wrote: “Certainly more than a thousand people are murdered…every day, and another thousand German men are habituated to murder…what shall I say when I am asked: ‘And what did you do during this time?’” (Page 393)

Upon reading that quote, I too was immediately stricken in conscience about our situation. “In the US, more than 3700 babies are murdered every day, and an equal or greater number of men and women are habituated to murder. What shall I say when I am asked: ‘And what did you do doing this time?’” Am I over-reacting or being too sensitive about this matter? What does the Scripture say?

Leviticus provides instructions on God’s moral and ceremonial laws for His people, Israel. As followers of Christ, we’re aware that we’re no longer under obligation to the Law of Moses. However, we also know that all Scripture is God-breathed and that Leviticus contains truths that are as relevant for us today as they were for ancient Israel.

One of the most common phrases we encounter in Leviticus (49 times) is: “I am the Lord.” Why does God continually remind Israel (and us) that He is the Lord? Leviticus 11:44 reveals the reason: “I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” I believe we could rightly summarize the book of Leviticus by saying that in this book, God reveals His holiness, His holy character. And furthermore, He urges us as His people to be like Him. “Be holy, because I am holy.” God’s desire for our holiness, or to be like Him in character, is repeated in the New Testament (1 Peter 1:14-16).

Having established that Leviticus reflects and teaches us God’s character and His will for us to become holy in our character and conduct, consider the following: “If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.” (Leviticus 5:1) Notice what’s going on this statement. We have either seen or learned about something evil—a crime committed. If we sin because we do not speak up about it…we will be held responsible! This is a character of God issue for us today. “Be holy as I am holy!”

I urge us to confess our sin of not speaking out against abortion. I’m not talking about being militant or evil ourselves by attacking those who perform abortions, are pro-abortion, or submit themselves to abortion. All these individuals are victims. They have been deceived to rationalize that it’s okay to kill an unborn child. We need to love them and pray for them and we need to seek every righteous means possible to rescue the innocent.

Here’s what we can do:
• Pray!

• Love and pray for those who have been wounded by an abortion experience
• Pray vicarious prayers of repentance on behalf of our nation
• Pray that God would convict our nation of the lie of abortion as a viable option
• Pray for Life Services and other front-lines organizations who are making a difference

• Watch the 180 Movie and send the link to other people you know:  www.heartchanger.com
• Read Randy Alcorn’s book, Why Pro-Life? (Amazon.com) and pass it on to others.
• Read Rob Fischer’s book, 13 Jars (Amazon.com) and pass the copy along to others.
• Volunteer with and give to a pregnancy center in your community. They are making a real difference by saving babies and mothers!

© 2012 Rob Fischer

Over the next few weeks I’ve decided to tell some of the stories of God’s faithfulness in my life. My prayer is that if you have never “tasted and seen” how good God is that you would begin to experience the joy of trusting him. Or perhaps in the past you have “tasted and seen” that God is good, but that experience seems foreign and distant. Take heart! God invites us:

“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it’s all free!

Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.

Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:1-3, 6 NLT)

At a very young age I began to experience God’s faithfulness and goodness. When I was twelve, our church launched a “faith-promise” missions campaign. “Faith-promise” is a concept of asking God what amount of money he wanted us to trust him to faithfully provide through us—in this case specifically for missions. I remember being very excited about asking Jesus what he wanted me to trust him for. At the end of two weeks I was certain that God had led me to write down a specific amount on my pledge card.

As the day approached for us to turn in our pledge cards I was ecstatic with anticipation! I really believed that God had led me to a specific amount per week that he would provide through me over the next year as I trusted him. I really saw this as an adventure with Jesus!

That morning on the way to church, my parents knew that I was participating in the faith-promise campaign and asked what amount I had written on my pledge card. I told them, “Four dollars.” My parents looked a bit shocked and asked, “You don’t mean four dollars per week, do you?” To which I responded with a big smile, “Yes, I do!”

My parents paused a moment and said, “Honey, you only get a dollar a week for your allowance. How are you going to give four?” With my simple child-faith I said, “Jesus will provide! I know he will!” And to my parents’ credit they accepted my answer to trust God. As I turned in my faith-promise card that morning I could hardly wait to see what God was going to do.

When I got home that afternoon, I prayed asking God to bless my efforts. Then I ran around to various neighbors and asked if I could mow their lawns and perform other yard work for them. That afternoon I landed three mowing jobs. When fall came the jobs turned to raking leaves and snow shoveling that winter.

There were some weeks in which I did not know how God would provide for that week. But he did! In fact, he provided four dollars for my missions faith-promise offering every week for 52 weeks that year! I truly experienced great joy in seeing him work this way in my life.

Even as a 12-year-old I learned some amazing things about my relationship with Jesus Christ. I learned that he is very trustworthy. I saw that I can listen to him and follow him and that he delights in leading us and working in our lives. I also began to experience a taste of his greatness by watching him provide way beyond my own ability. Finally, I got to savor his love—not only for me for those who were receiving the gifts that he gave through me.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” Psalm 34:8 NLT

©2009 Rob Fischer

I had her perched on our kitchen island and I asked her the question (not knowing what kind of answer, if any, I was going to receive), “Hattie, what are YOU going to wear to church today?”  She looked up at me with her beautiful, big brown eyes and peanut butter and jelly spread all over her face and emphatically replied, “JESUS!”  I stood there stunned, speechless, silent.  Then it hit me – was I going to “wear Jesus” today?  Conviction rolled over me, because I don’t “wear Him” everyday.  Was I going to wear Jesus today?  Not just at church where it is easy.  What about the rest of the week, where it is not easy?

In the Book of Colossians it says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And overall these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (3:12-14).  Jesus is love (1 John 4:16) and that love is perfect and complete.  And by us abiding in Christ and Him living in us, his transforming power takes the “grave clothes” of death (John 11:44) off from us and dresses us in His righteousness, contrary to the attitudes of this world.

God is perfect in His timing.  And today He used this two-year-old little girl to speak into my life in a massive way.  I thank God over and over for placing her in my life. And today He used her as a vessel for speaking a challenge that I will remember, keep and live out, by God’s grace and power (because He desires for me to change) for the rest of my life.  What the Lord was saying to me through her was, “Clothe yourself in the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:14).

One day at a time, we must ask ourselves, “What am I going to wear today?”  Christ has a wardrobe picked out for us and it is to change into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18).  The question is, “Will we open the doors of change?”  He will give us white clothes (sinless and spotless because of His righteousness) to wear (Revelation 3:18) that we need never be ashamed of.