An Honest Christian Talk
ICS Daily Devotions
John 15:19-20 (NKJV) If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
Jesus has already warned us that we will have persecution because He was persecuted. There are two kinds of persecution, first for being a Christian and second for the theological stand that we hold. Darkness will not welcome the light, especially today where the world’s values and Christian values are so divergent.
The Apostle Peter’s faith was being sifted when he was questioned whether he was associated with Jesus Christ, but he denied knowing Christ three times, and gave up his association with Jesus when tremendous pressure came with persecution after Jesus was arrested. If it happened to someone so close to Jesus, it will happen to us too! Peter has heard all the teaching, witnessed miracles, and even walked on water, but that’s what persecution does to us! We may also let go of the Word that we have heard and even disassociate ourselves from God. There will be a price to pay for being the salt and light for Him, but we need to remember that the seed of the Word of God regarding how to be the salt and light of this world will be stolen if we compromise or cave into the persecution and pressure from peers or business partners. If we are unable to stand up on our convictions, we will stumble when pressure is applied through persecution.
The second kind of persecution will be on the Word. We need to bear in mind that God is good all the time, and rightly divide the Word so we can identify the work of God and the scheme of the devil. Also, we must not just look for a formula to get out of the situation but build a strong foundation with the Word of God because what gives substance to our faith during times of crisis is the Word of God, especially His personal Word.
It takes patience and courage to stand in faith regarding the Word that we have heard. We can have a kind of faith that grows exceedingly when we allow the Word of God to take root in our lives through meditation and practising what was taught. This exceedingly growing faith will survive the onslaught of persecutions and tribulations thrown at us to get us to let go of our conviction of the Word.
Jesus wants us to allow the Word to take root in our lives so that we can stand firm during tribulations and persecutions and not fall away. Being a Christian does not promise us that we will be free from tribulation, but it does promise us the ability to overcome when it happens in our lives.
Sermon Series: Don’t Let It Be Stolen
