You are well aware, then, that anybody who tries to live in devotion to Christ is certain to be attacked; while these wicked impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and deceived themselves.
“Joe Btfsplk” was the character in the old cartoon strip by Al Capp called Little Abner. Joe was unlucky despite his good intentions. He was always portrayed with a storm cloud over his head. Sometimes when the world closes in on you and me, we feel like this character. The pain we feel in life is not always the Devil’s fault, but the Devil can take our lives and our own mistakes and turn them around for the evil purpose of destroying our souls and keeping us from the love of God. It can cause us to forget that we have a Savior in the person of Jesus Christ who is waiting to help us.
You must keep to what you have been taught and know to be true; remember who your teachers were, and how, ever since you were a child, you have known the holy scriptures – from these you can learn the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
My mom and dad were good people, and I was raised in a good Catholic family. My mother was a homemaker, and my dad was the consummate salesman. He was a people person who had people speak of him years after his death with admiration. My mother grew up in Milwaukee and like some of her other sisters she never drove a car. My parents always went to church, but my dad never was a joiner. He was insistent that we get my mother to church every Sunday. They had a certain pew they sat in every Sunday rain or shine. My mother never joined in any organization because she did not drive. Nonetheless, when my dad died my sister and I took her to church with us. We sang in the choir, so she came with us to practice before Mass. Turns out she always wanted to sing in the choir, and it was one of her lifetime desires. She joined the choir.
My mother not only sang in the choir she expanded her social and spiritual life as well. She became a social butterfly and had many friends. Everyone at church called her “Buscia” or Polish for grandmother, because her grandkids called her Buscia. At Church she was Buscia to everyone. The sadness of my dad’s death turned into the joy of my mother living her dream and turning her sorrow into joy.
Justice for those who are attacked by others will come. We have to be as faithful as we can and do the right thing that scripture and the Holy Spirit tell us to do. Yes, you will be persecuted for doing the right thing. I can’t tell you something other than what the scriptures says, because it would be a lie. Satan will lie to you. Do what is right. Pray about it and do it again.
Just because you may feel like “Joe Btfsplk”, don’t forget the scriptures that encourage you. Yes, the devil will attack, but you have Jesus on your side.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Pope Leo XIV. Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. The impossible could and can happen. (Saint Rita) Never deny God! Pray for justice for all immigrants! Pray for justice for our President and all government officials! Pray for Peace!
