Thoughts for another day

July 9, 2013.

Today's verse: 2 Tim. 3:12. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

Have you tried living a godly life – viz. a life you know to please God?  If you have then you’ll know what the above Word means.  For you would know that as soon as you started living such a life there came upon you many of the things you perhaps were wary of; or which you probably never knew would happen to you.  The first thing you’d have noticed is that people call you a holy Joe and make fun of you and even leave you at times in great emotional distress accusing you and pointing fingers at you for no reason at all.  This happens among Christians and is rather shameful.

I’m talking of people leading good lives who have decided to be completely with the Lord and who do not want to pick fights or even argue with others. The rule of this world is: If you can bend a person, then bend him to kick him.  We see that happening day in and day out.  Those who’re meek are trampled on, they’re treated unfairly and all kinds of things are said about them as everyone knows they’ll not retaliate.  Meekness is an important aspect of Christ’s life which we imbibe as His disciples and when we’re meek, troubles follow.  When we want to talk of Christ, there’s a lot of opposition, maybe not from the person we talk to as we in all probability know the person and study him before talking to him about Christ.  But, his family members will have a problem because having come to know Christ, this person does not want to participate in the daily rituals of their deities and the problem deteriorates and the ire of his family members falls on us.

I’ve noticed that the moment one desires to live a good life, there will be threats and risks because the world cannot come to grips with Christ’s ways and His disciples.  But we don’t bother for Jesus has said, Jn. 16:33, ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’  No matter what persecution we face, we must not be deterred but walk steadfastly in that path remembering what Paul said, Rom. 8:18, ‘the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.’  What a beautiful gift from God and in all the persecutions we face, we’ll emerge only the stronger and be a testimony of God’s goodness to others like us which will result in the growth of the church and strengthening of her faith.  Amen.