“The blood was the sign of those who were inside the house and were counting on the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who believed enough to obey His commands and trust in His Word.” The Sons of Encouragement: Biblical Stories of Aaron, Caleb, Jonathan, Amos, and Silas, by Francine Rivers, (my translation from the Spanish-language edition)

Last night, reading Rivers’ first story centered on Aaron, I paused at this bit of narrative.  Aaron is reflecting on the significance of this first Passover evening as shadows lengthen and night falls. The house, where Aaron lives along with his sons, grandkids, Miriam and Moses, will be protected by the blood from the lamb roasting on a spit in the hearth. He nervously anticipates devastating events for the Egyptians when the Angel of Death sweeps through the land in a few hours.

What I liked about this passage is how Francine Rivers parsed out with clarity what it means to belong to God, to be one of His. An authentic Christian is entitled to claim the name of  “Believer” if he or she trusts God enough to obey Him. Any boy or girl, man or woman who takes Jesus at His Word and WANTS to obey Him can enjoy the assurance of having been adopted by the Father.

Daily, as I intentionally share something about Jesus with people I meet, I feel an inner push to ask a question that will lead to clarity about the Good News.  Thanks to River’s novel, I see a way from Aaron’s inner dialogue for me to get to the nut of what it means to be a Christian. 

As a polyglot in my encounters with non-Americans in person and online, I represent not only America but Jesus.  For that reason, I’m always on the lookout for a creative way to be able to explain clearly what is a Christian. I often have to dismantle the usual viewpoint that a Chrisitan is defined as someone religious who attends church. Of course someone may be religious and hopefully enjoy a church home, but that doesn’t define a follower of Jesus.

This assumption about what makes a Christian is so widespread, that I constantly depend on God to help me ask effective questions. Novels about the life of believers who struggle to understand God equip me. Thank you, Francine Rivers.