Future

When Jesus was on the Mount of Olives He taught about what would happen in the future and it sure seems like we are there and the end is coming.  Let me ask you a question: are you ready for what will come, and has come in certain places, upon the sons of men and their families?  There are many people in the world that are facing heavy persecution from many people; some who don’t understand because they are blinded to the truth, and others from people that think they are doing God a favor and still others that have believed a lie and ran with it not really trying to seek to know the truth and to be set free by it.

It is very important as believers that we pray for those in the body of Christ that face persecution.  Even though we may not be facing these things where we live, not being in the situation ourselves, we need to ask the Lord how we may be able to help them in these stressful times.  Also, don’t forget to pray for the persecutors, that they would come to know the truth and that the truth would set them free.

We need to also pray for God’s peace to come to all the nations of the world that are suffering persecution.  Let me remind you of something; the body of Christ isn’t housed in one building, but it is spread all around the world.  When one part suffers, we all should suffer.

Read what it says in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26, “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”

We need to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, like it says in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

When we hear that someone has been especially blessed we need to rejoice with them and when we hear that someone in the body of Christ is suffering we need to weep with them.  Question: have you ever wept because of the persecuted church?  If the answer is no, then I am as guilty as you because I haven’t either.  It seems much easier to weep with those that are closest to you than over those you don’t really know.  We need to pray and ask the Lord to help us be more sensitive and loving as we pray and think about what is going on in our brothers and sisters lives.

All the things that Jesus talked about will only take place if we love one another and if we love God first and put Him first in our lives.  What did Jesus teach about those that persecute you?  Look in Matthew 5:10-12, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Read what Jesus said about loving your enemies in the same chapter in verses 43-48, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Jesus didn’t say it would be easy but that it could and should be done.  Enough said, I have given you something to think about, have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!  And don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for He is worthy!!