This past weekend, I received an email from someone that really, really upset me. This person brought my attention to a situation, except instead of presenting the problem, she pointed fingers, called names and made false accusations. It wounded me deeply to read such a malicious message. I felt so persecuted.
Isn't that just like us...to feel so persecuted when someone calls us a name or disagrees with us. It feels like the world is against us, when in reality the only one who is against us is the enemy! Somehow we feel like we have suffered by the cruelty of someone else's words or actions. I know I thought that I had suffered in the past. I thought so... until yesterday:
A missionary visited our church yesterday and shared a video with us that showed persecution in the area he labors. Pictures depicted the bodies of women and children that had been killed because of their stand for Christ. Stories were told of young daughters of preachers that had been raped because of their father's message to the lost.
Persecution is not having our feelings hurt because of name calling or disagreement. Persecution is giving up your life because you believe in Jesus Christ.
MATTHEW 5:11,12 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. (12) Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
As we rapidly approach the end of age, we can expect persecution to be on the rise. Whether it is being ridiculed or killed for our faith - it will happen. We need to be prepared and ready.
What cost are you willing to pay for your faith?
4 comments:
I know exactly what you are saying, we do take it to heart. And I have to remind myself all the time it's not me who they are attacking it's who I represent. Jesus Christ.
We who are in America don't really know what true persecution is those in third world countries do know. Here we can read the word in freedom they can't they are killed for reading the word.
We must thank God daily for our freedom and stop saying we are being persecuted when in fact we aren't our emotions got hurt that is it. Don't you just love how Jesus brings things into perspective for us? As the word says we don't fight against flesh and blood, the enemy will use people and who ever he can to attack us because we serve Christ. I'm happy to see you posted this and that your perspective was changed God bless
I am so sorry for your hurtful email. I hate that kind of stuff. Yes, I've felt persecution and expect to feel more in the future. It's never enjoyable and sometimes Satan wins for awhile getting me to doubt myself, my judgment, etc. but God has always been faithful and pulled me through.
I am so sorry for that hateful email. I agree with Desiray...They are attacking who you represent not you. It's just satan attacking you so that you will get down and stop serving Christ. Hold on to the prize that awaits you... Jesus..
Sorry you had to deal with that sweetie, stand strong.
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