Thought for Today - May - 7
God's Promise To Us When – We Are Persecuted
By: Robert A. Searles
“Yea, And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus Shall suffer persecution” 2 Timothy 3: 12.
Whatever comes our way, in the realm of trials, temptations, and
persecution, we are assured from the Holy Scriptures, that God
sometimes wills and allows those things for our good, and perhaps for
the good of those with whom we have an influence in our daily lives, so
that, perhaps they may witness our testimony of steadfastness for the
Lord, and receive Christ and be saved.
The spread of the
gospel, was greatly expedited by the persecution of the early martyrs,
in the early days of the church after the ascension of the Lord into
heaven,
Joseph was one who suffered persecution at the hands of
his brothers when they became envious of him, and sold him into
slavery; but this was meant for good for the saving of his family when
they were suffering a time of famine in their own land. “But as for
you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good to bring to
pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.'” Genesis 50: 20.
Jesus has promised us that there are great rewards in heaven waiting
for those who suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness here on
earth.
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness
sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men
shall revile you, and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad; for
great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you. “ Matthew 5: 10-12.
In the days ahead,
some of us Christians may have to suffer some severe persecution, if the
Lord does not return soon. Because of our not being “politically
correct”, and by not denying our faith in Christ; the absolute
authority of the word of God; and the desire for righteous living, -
in the opinion of unbelievers and wicked persons, we who hold to the
truth of the Word of God are the wrong doers and deserve to be punished
and persecuted for righteousness sake. Even so, let us, if and when we
are called upon to suffer persecution for Christ, remember the promise
of God, that the wicked and evil workers of iniquity who bring
persecution upon us will soon be cut down, and those who belong to
Christ shall prevail and be more than conquerors with him
. “We
are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but
not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; cast down, but not
destroyed. Always bearing about in the body the dying of he Lord Jesus,
that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we
which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the
life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then,
death worketh in us, but life in you. “ 2 Corinthians 4: 8-12.
“And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is
good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye, and be
not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. 1 Peter 3: 13-14
Let us not be boastful and over confident in our own strength in the
time of persecution, as Peter did during the trial of Christ when he
boasted that he would never forsake the Lord, but let us pray for one
another that we may find grace in the time of need, and in the power of
God remain faithful and steadfast in our faith.
Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
Psalm 26:7
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