The Police: "Canary in a Coal Mine"

This is one song I'm sure most of us can identify with. It's about a perfectionist who can't stand things not being done completely correct. They truly are like a canary in a coal mine except that they don't save miner's lives by fainting when there's a lack of oxygen.

Listen to this song here:

We are often reminded in scripture about being strong in the faith. As Hebrews 12:3-5 (Bible in Basic English) reminds us, "Give thought to him who has undergone so much of the hate of sinners against himself, so that you may not be tired and feeble of purpose. Till now you have not given your blood in your fight against sin: And you have not kept in mind the word which says to you as to sons, 'My son, do not make little of the Lord's punishment, and do not give up hope when you are judged by him;'"

Likewise, we shouldn't be fearful when persecution happens. As Paul reminded his readers in Ephesians 3:13 (BBE) regarding his imprisonments and sufferings for the gospel, "For this reason it is my prayer that you may not become feeble because of my troubles for you, which are your glory."

And as in farming and gardening, the harvest isn't immediate. We need to persist in kind acts toward others, as Galatians 6:9 (BBE) reminds us. "And let us not get tired of well-doing; for at the right time we will get in the grain, if we do not give way to weariness."

Jesus also encouraged his followers, and us too, that we must continue petitioning the father. As Luke 18:1 (BBE) says, "And he made a story for them, the point of which was that men were to go on making prayer and not get tired;"

Even in our Christian walk with our Master, we must constantly fight the urge to quit. He gave an example of quitters in Matthew 13:5 and 6 (BBE). "And some of the seed went among the stones, where it had not much earth, and straight away it came up because the earth was not deep: And when the sun was high, it was burned; and because it had no root it became dry and dead"."

Most importantly, we must continue to testify of the gospel to others. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:1 and 2 (BBE), "For this reason, because we have been made servants of this new order, through the mercy given to us, we are strong: And we have given up the secret things of shame, not walking in false ways, and not making use of the word of God with deceit; but by the revelation of what is true, as before God, we have the approval of every man's sense of right and wrong."

And if the anticipated return of Christ hasn't happened by Monday, I hope to post about overly-talkative people.