Persecution

For as long as I can remember, since I have been going to church, I never remember hearing a teaching on persecution.  I know this is not something that too many Christians get excited about, but it is a reality.  There are probably more Christians being persecuted today for their faith than any other time in the history of man.  Not many of us where we live have experienced heavy persecution like so many in other countries have, maybe because many of us are closet Christians, hiding the fact that we are believers so as to avoid being persecuted.

Persecution comes in many forms and most believers experience some of it, like losing friends or people getting angry with us when we try to share the Lord and our testimony with them.  Sometimes people avoid us and make fun of us behind our backs and even, at times, while we are present with them.  You may hear that you believe in the Lord because you need a crutch, something to lean on, to get through each day because without it you would crumble.  I wonder how many Christians have had the privilege of praying with an un-believer that is broken over their sins, to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior?  

It is easy to avoid persecution by acting like the world and conforming to it and avoiding any conflicts people may have about Christianity.  You can be like chameleons and just fit into every situation, so as not to be detected by anyone.  Did you ever hear this statement, “Actions speak louder than words?”  Talk is easy but it is the way you act that people judge.  Have you ever heard this statement, “I would rather see a sermon than hear one any day?”  

If you know anything about the Bible, you know that many of the prophets, disciples and others were persecuted for the Lord and the faith they confessed and were not ashamed of.  The apostle Paul who wrote most of the New Testament went through persecution almost daily, so often that he said this in 2 Timothy 3:10-13, “Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

He was talking to Timothy at the time and as time went on things seemed to go from bad to worse in many parts of the world and it is coming closer and closer to where we live each day.  I am not trying to scare anyone, all I want to do is prepare each and every person that will be involved each and every believer so none will be caught unaware.

In Jesus’ days on earth He also prepared His disciples for persecution in Matthew 10:16 through the end of the chapter.  Now read what Jesus said in verses 16-22, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.  Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”

Jesus had a lot to say in these verses and I think much of what Jesus said relates to us today.  Those that claim they would die for Jesus may get that opportunity someday, but until that happens keep on keeping on and don’t be a chameleon, be bold in witnessing and sharing your faith.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you all have a great day.