The past few months I have felt strongly that there will be rapidly increasing persecution of Christians in America. If you choose to follow God’s word and do so in love and truth, you will still face persecution. This is not because you are not doing something right. It is because of the spiritual battle that is growing in intensity as we see the day of Christ’s return growing closer.
A soft answer turns away wrath.”
As followers of Christ, we don’t argue and throw stones at each other. Our answers to questions or accusations should be carried by someone who walks with their feet soled with the gospel of PEACE. Even so, Jesus walked in peace and his words of truth stirred up hate and anger in those who disagreed with him… so much so that ultimate solution of those who opposed him was to silence Him with death.
Our human nature is to desire to be liked. Even if we are not a social butterfly, a loner wants to be liked by at least a few people! The bully who picks on others and spews insults typically does these things to cover up a deep desire to be loved… to be liked. No one wants to be the outsider or ridiculed by “the crowd”. We all want to be liked.
As Christians, we should do all that we can to live at peace with one another, even with those who we have disagreements. This is essential to the two commands Jesus gave us, to love God above all others and love our neighbors as ourselves. As followers of Christ, we seek to live peacefully and displaying love with/to the people around us.
I realize these are just rambling thoughts but I’m getting somewhere!
Choose this day, whom you will serve.
If you choose to serve God and be a follower of Christ, you will be a LIGHT that cannot be hidden. We live in a world of darkness and as we let the light of Christ shine through us, some will be drawn to this light and see it as a beacon of salvation but other will see it as light exposing areas of darkness they don’t want uncovered. We will be a light that some want to put out by any means possible. Remember that is it not flesh and blood that we fight against but spiritual powers of darkness. Never let hate seed in your heart towards a person in the midst of this battle. Always remember that there is a spirit at work behind anything said or done that is an attack against you.
This is not a challenge to you for the future. No longer do we talk about these things and say “one day they won’t tolerate teachings of truth.”
The time is now.
Choose whom you will serve.
Choose who & what you believe and prepare to take a stand. (Joshua 24:15) By the help of the Holy Spirit, you can do and say all the “right” things and you are still going to be persecuted.
God’s word to you today is prepare yourself (Ephesians 6), wrap yourself with right living (breastplate of righteousness), walk in peace (feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace), be filled with the Holy Spirit & knowledge of the Word of God, which is your counselor and defender (use the sword of the spirit) and get ready to
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
Salt and Light – Matthew 5:13-14
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.