Life lessons from Corrie ten Boom - part 1Sample

The Great Command

Mark 12:30 (NIV)

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

People in need start to knock on the door of the family Ten Boom. They seek help and a hiding place. Out of compassion and love the family starts to help these people. One day Corrie meets her nephew who is already working in the resistance. She asks him: 

“How is the Jewish couple doing, I recently sent to your place?” 

“Aunt Kees” (this is her nickname), her nephew replies, “if you want to work in the resistance, you’d better not ask these questions anymore.” 

Then the penny drops: what was considered before to be an act of love and compassion, now appears to be an act of political rebellion. It could cost her life and the lives of many others are at stake.

As Bible believing Christians, this is a real dilemma. Romans 13:1 states: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

This act of political resistance can result in their death and in the death sentence of many others. There is another knock on the door. A young Jewish couple with a baby is in desperate need for help. Then Father Ten Boom says: “There is one law that overrules all other laws, namely, ‘to love the Lord your God above all and your neighbor as yourself.’ These people are our neighbors. Yes they’re God’s precious people, the apple of His eye!” (Deuteronomy 32:10). And so the resistance work of the BéJé (Barteljorisstraat) starts.

Questions 

• Has there ever been a situation in your life where you had to face the dilemma that God’s law and commands overruled other commands and instructions? 
• How did you decide what to do?

Prayer

Father, thank You for the Great Command that the Lord Jesus gave us anew in Mark 12:30. Give us Your wisdom and discernment to obey the Great Command. Even though costs might be involved.