The Bible Edge
Random Thoughts of a Spiritual Nature II
II Timothy 3:12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
To some extent or another, to some degree or another every single person who chooses to live godly in Jesus Christ will suffer persecution. Sad, but true. There is no question about this, but there is a question about how that person will respond to persecution.
Frankly, persecution is only a tool, a battering ram used to stop, or at least hinder, another from doing that which is offensive or a hindrance to the one doing the persecuting. Let’s say that part of someone’s job is to notarize documents. This person knows Christ and is devoted to Him in word, action, and deed. Because of their desire to be honest, above board, and decent in all things, they will not notarize a document unless it is signed before them as it should be. So, someone, perhaps a high ranking official in the organization comes to this person with a document already signed and asks that person to notarize it. This person, because they know this would be breaking the rules a notary must maintain, says no. That person who has been told no may try to use persecution of some type or another to pressure the notary into breaking protocol.
Someone may say, this is not a religious matter. But it is. For the integrity of the notary is a spiritual thing to them. It is part of living godly. By breaking the agreed to rules for notarizing a document they would be lying. When they choose to live godly in maintaining the integrity of the notary process they set themselves against those who wish them to do otherwise. Now this is a simple and, in some ways, ridiculous illustration but the lesson it illustrates is not. The lesson is, when anyone decides to live godly in Christ Jesus, they set themselves against those who do not. By doing so, persecution will come.
So, what is a person to do? First, never go against your Biblical belief system. Second, if you stand for godliness and persecution hits home, remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:10-12. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Welcome to the club of the persecuted. May it be mild in degree, but whatever the degree, be faithful in obedience to God (which is what godliness is), for in doing so …great is your reward in heaven… Living godly in an ungodly world is not an easy thing to do, but by doing so it wins great rewards and blessings are obtained. You are not alone for …all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
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