November 25, 2024

Afflictions and Deliverance

July 11, 2014 by

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As I read Psalm 34, I noticed a recurring theme. Take a look at these four verses:

Verse 4
I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears. (NLT)
Verse 6
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. (AMP)
Verse 17
The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. (NLT)
Verse 19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. (NASB)

Do you see it?  Freedom, salvation, rescue, deliverance…that’s the theme I saw.  But “who” is our Deliverer and from “what” are we being freed?  I love the use of the word “afflictions” in the NASB version of verse 19. Other translations use the words “troubles, adversities, and evils.”   ‘Afflictions’ encompasses our fears, our troubles, our desperation, our helplessness, our brokenness our wounds, our pains. Every trial, every struggle, every adversary and enemy is bound up in the word affliction. That is “what” we are being rescued from—our afflictions. From the small annoying molehills we face daily to the gigantic, seemingly immovable, mountains of tragedy and despair.

“Who” rescues us and saves us from these afflictions?  The Lord is our Deliverer.  The Lord hears our cries, listens to our prayers when we seek Him. Let’s face it, on our own, we are often incapable of finding our way out of a cardboard box.  Right now I am in the midst of a struggle.  In the grand scheme of things, it is a molehill kind of struggle.  But it has left me feeling bereft and abandoned.  I cannot find my own way out of that box.  In fact, at times it seems I have placed the box over my head and am encased by it!  Yet, Psalm 34:2 says if I “boast only in the Lord” then even in my helplessness I can take heart.  Doesn’t it make your heart happy that the Lord promises to hear our cries and our prayers?  He alone can provide deliverance from our afflictions.  Tony Evans sums it up this way:

“Prayer is the hand of faith that transfers the promises of God into the realities of life.”

All we need to do is call His name to put it into motion.

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Father, we thank You for always being there when we seek You, for hearing the cries of our hearts. You alone are our Deliverer. Our hope and salvation comes from You. You have freed us from every fear, every trouble, every affliction and we are eternally grateful. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen—so be it.

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Your Grace Finds Me

July 10, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

It’s there in the newborn cry
There in the light of every sunrise
There in the shadows of this life
Your great grace
It’s there on the mountaintop
There in the everyday and the mundane
There in the sorrow and the dancing
Your great grace
Oh such grace

From the creation to the Cross
There from the Cross into eternity
Your grace finds me; yes, Your grace finds me

It’s there on a wedding day
There in the weeping by the grave side
There in the very breath we breathe
Your great grace
The same for the rich and poor
The same for the saint and for the sinner
Enough for this whole wide world
Your great grace
Oh such grace

There in the darkest night of the soul
There in the sweetest songs of victory
Your grace finds me
Yes Your grace finds me
Your great grace
Oh such grace
Your great grace
Oh such grace

So I’m breathing in Your grace
And breathing out Your praise
I’m breathing in Your grace
Forever I’ll be
Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me

 Singer / Songwriter Matt Redman (with Jonas Myrin)

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“And the most beautiful thing about the grace of God is that it always finds us where we are.”
Matt Redman

I have an acronym that I use to define God’s grace:

  • G – God’s
  • R – riches
  • A – at
  • C – Christ’s
  • E – expense

Bible dictionaries define God’s grace as His ‘unmerited favor and undeserved mercy’.  But recently I saw a post about grace that completely captured my attention.  It said that grace is like water – it always flows down to the lowest point.  Wow!  So simple but completely true.  As Psalm 145:9 says, “The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all His creation.”  No matter how high we are or how far we fall—from the peak to the pit—God’s grace will always find us. From creation to eternity, God’s great grace is available to us. Doesn’t that just make you smile?

We all struggle…just with different things at different times. I have a temper. I despise confrontations. I battle with insecurity and my pride is easily wounded. I have a hard time making friends and a harder time keeping them. I don’t do relationships well. I’m sure each of you has a similar laundry list of struggles. But Hebrews 13:9 NLT reminds us “Your strength comes from God’s grace….” And Joshua 1:5 AMP states “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.” That’s why the bridge of this song is my favorite part.

“So I’m breathing in Your grace
And breathing out Your praise
I’m breathing in Your grace
Forever I’ll be”

When my temper is ready to flare…when harsh, hurtful words are on the tip of my tongue…when I wonder why I am not enough, not good enough—I can breathe in His grace and breathe out His praise. My focus shifts to Him and I hopefully avoid doing something I truly would have regretted. Hiding in His favor and mercy, forever I’ll be.

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Abba, thank You so much for the amazing gift of grace that always finds me wherever I am, be it sunlight or shadows. Thank You for the strength I find in Your grace. Allow me to see Your grace in everyday life. To notice it, appreciate it and praise You for such great grace. In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen—so be it.

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Broken Hallelujahs

July 8, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I can barely stand right now
Everything is crashing down
And I wonder where You are

I try to find the words to pray
I don’t always know what to say
But You’re the one that can hear my heart

Even though I don’t know what Your plan is
I know You’re making beauty from these ashes

I’ve seen joy and I’ve seen pain
On my knees, I call Your name
Here’s my broken hallelujah
With nothing left to hold onto
I raise these empty hands to You
Here’s my broken hallelujah

You know the things that have brought me here
You know the story of every tear
‘Cause You’ve been here from the very start

Even though I don’t know what your plan is
I know You’re making beauty from these ashes

When all is taken away, don’t let my heart be changed
Let me always sing Hallelujah
When I feel afraid, don’t let my hope be erased
Let me always sing Hallelujah
Let me always sing Hallelujah

I will always sing
I will always sing
Here’s my broken hallelujah

Writer(s): Josh Havens/Matt Fuqua/Jordan Mohilowski/Dan Ostebo
Performed by The Afters

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The first time I heard this song, I cried.  Wept uncontrollably.  This was my journey.  I had walked this path.  I have seen joy and pain.  I still get a lump in my throat every time I hear it.  Often I will find myself singing it in my head.

We have all been there…

  • Replaced in the life of someone you thought was a friend
  • Rejected by someone who mattered
  • Betrayed by one closest to you
  • Made a mistake so grievous you believed it could never be atoned
  • Mired in the pit of despair
  • Broken into so many pieces you feel beyond repair
  • Unable to stand, barely able to think
  • In intense pain

So what do we do? Here’s what one great man of God did:

Job stood up and tore his robe in grief.
Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship.
Job 1:20 NLT

Six years ago I found myself in just such a place. I felt I had lost everything that mattered. What I did surprises me as I look back. I turned to my only source of comfort—the only One I could truly trust—Jesus.  I would have never thought my faith was that strong.  As I cried out to Him, I didn’t realize I was offering Him the one thing He desired…a broken hallelujah.

brokenpiecescynda
God knows what the plan is. Only He can make beauty from the broken pieces of our lives. In fact, He sees beauty in the broken. Being broken can lift us up if we lift up our broken hallelujahs to Him.

To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning,
the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—
that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent,
distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God],
the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
Isaiah 61:3 AMP

I have been on my knees, empty hands lifted, calling out His name.  I don’t always have words to pray but God hears my heart.  He has captured EVERY one of the tears I’ve cried in a special bottle (maybe more like a barrel).  I am so very thankful He was with me from the start and never left my side.

When these times come, as I know they will, my one desire is that my heart won’t change and my hope won’t be erased, that I will always sing Hallelujah.

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God’s Condescension

June 17, 2014 by

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He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth.
Psalm 113:6 NLT

Who humbles Himself to regard the heavens and the earth!
Psalm 113:6 AMP

As I was researching this verse, I kept coming across the phrase “God’s condescension.” I did not like the way that sounded. Who thinks of God as condescending? To me, condescending meant ‘patronizing superiority’.  But biblically it means the exact opposite. I looked it up in several biblical dictionaries and found that condescension means ‘gentleness, meekness, or humility’.  It is used to describe God’s benevolence towards us.

Think of it this way—God’s glory is above all things, even the heavens.  Job 5:15 says: “Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones, And the heavens are not pure in His sight” (NASB).  Yet, He never neglects any of His creations.  Psalm 138:6 puts it this way: “Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly” (NKJ).  He gives us His constant care and attention. God is aware of even the smallest of details.  Psalm 11:4 tells us: “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes watch; He examines everyone.”  There is not one thing that He does not see, guide, and direct (as if there is nothing else to demand His attention).

What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
Psalm 8:4 NASB

Lord, what is man that You take notice of him? Or [the] son of man that You take account of him?
Psalm 144:3 AMP

Who are we that God should be so mindful of us?  Job 36:5 reminds us: “Behold! God is mighty, and yet despises no one nor regards anything as trivial.”  He is infinitely perfect and all-sufficient; and yet, it pleases Him to think of us.  He stoops from His throne on high to lay His hand upon us. God chooses to open Himself to us. Humble beyond any comparison, He stoops to offer us reconciliation.

In the words of Charles Spurgeon:
“It is God making Himself little which is the cause of our being made great.”

If that doesn’t blow you away, nothing ever will!

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Father God, I stand amazed and in awe of You. That You, to whom even the heavens are unclean, should stoop down and take notice of me. Mere words will never adequately express the gratefulness and appreciation I feel that You should humble Yourself on my behalf. Thank You Father. In the precious name of Jesus, I pray – Amen, so be it!

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An Attitude of Gratitude

June 4, 2014 by

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Let them praise the Lord for His great love
and for the wonderful things He has done for them.
Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about His glorious acts.
Psalms 107:21-22

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A sacrifice can be defined as ‘something valuable given to God.’  An offering can be defined as a ‘gift or anything presented to God.’  According to the Lexham Bible Dictionary , all sacrifices are offerings but not all offerings are sacrifices.  In the Old Testament there were two primary reasons for sacrifices and offerings. One reason was for atonement/restoration and the other reason was for worship and thanksgiving.  Sacrifices and offerings were needed to approach God.

Jesus became our permanent sacrifice, our eternal sin offering. But that does not mean we no longer need to bring offerings before the Lord. We can still bring a sacrifice of praise, a peace offering before God. Psalm 96:8 (NLT) encourages us to do so.

Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
bring an offering and come [before Him] into His courts.

The idea behind a peace offering was communion with God; sitting down to a meal with God and drawing close to Him. Through praise we can come into communion with God. Our praise celebrates His mercies, His goodness, His provisions and our redemption. In the Old Testament sacrifices served to restore relationship with God and to please Him. Praise gives us the opportunity to do the same. We can bring a ‘thank you’ offering to the altar and a grateful heart to God. Sharing what God has done encourages others and keeps our victories fresh in our minds.

As Charles Spurgeon states:

“Such things are worth telling, for the personal declaration honours God, relieves ourselves, comforts others, and puts all men in possession of facts concerning the divine goodness which they will not be able to ignore.”

Psalm 73:28 (NLT) reminds us that when we draw close to God we can’t help but sing His praises!

But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereign Lord my Shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.

And, don’t you know, that pleases God.

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Heavenly Father, You are deserving of our praise. May our hearts and our lips joyfully ring out in worship of You. We come to You with a grateful heart, thankful for all You have done for us.  We know that if we don’t praise you, even the rocks will cry out Your name.  Our desire is to please You and we know our praise is pleasing to You.  Let an attitude of gratitude inhabit all that we do. In Your name we pray, Amen – so be it!

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Breaking Brass Gates and Busting Iron Bars

May 26, 2014 by

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May they erupt with praise and give thanks to the Eternal Lord
in honor of His loyal love and all the wonders He has performed for humankind!
He has broken down the bronze gates and severed the iron bars that imprisoned them.
Psalm 107:16 The Voice

Ever feel hesitant to do God’s will? Sometimes we are reluctant to follow the directions of God because all we see before us are the brass gates and iron bars blocking our way. The Amplified Bible shares Isaiah 45:2 this way:

I will go before you and level the mountains [to make the crooked places straight];
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron.

Psalm 107:16 and Isaiah 45:2 show us He will go before us and already have those obstacles removed before our arrival. God will make a way through the greatest difficulties we face. He will deliver us from the strongest prison, even if we are imprisoned in sin or consequences of our own making, and make the path straight ahead of us.  Micah 2:13 (Amplified) tells us that Jesus will be our Guide:

The Breaker [the Messiah] will go up before them.
They will break through, pass in through the gate and go out through it,
and their King will pass on before them, the Lord at their head.

Jesus has already broken through the barrier keeping us apart from God, paving the way for our salvation. He will continue to break through every obstacle in the way of our deliverance, our restoration, clearing a path through anyone or anything that opposes us. Nothing can hold us back if God is going before us.

Matthew Henry puts it like this:
“Those will find a ready road that have God going before them.”

Don’t let the brass gates and iron bars before you keep you from moving forward. Take that first step, all the while praising God. Watch Him shatter those gates and destroy the iron bars holding you back.

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Dear Lord, thank You so very much for Your grace and mercy. We are so thankful Your hand is upon us every step of the way. Do not let us hesitate when obstacles appear before. Remind us that You have already removed every obstacle blocking our path as long as we are following You. You are so good to us and we want to bring glory and honor to You in all we do. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen. So be it!

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A Radical Reaction

May 19, 2014 by

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May they erupt with praise and give thanks to the Eternal Lord
in honor of His loyal love
And all the wonders He has performed for humankind!
He has quenched their thirst,
and He has satisfied their hunger with what is good.
Psalms 107:8-9 The Voice

“If we complained less and praised more,
we would be happier
and God would be more glorified.”
Charles Spurgeon

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Do we erupt with praise? When we escape from difficult situations, trials, and troubles it is easy to praise God for His grace and mercy and proclaim His goodness. We are aware of His deliverance. Yet as time goes on, and the memory fades, do we continue to praise God for the common, everyday mercies? Do we even recognize them? Are we aware of His hand upon us?

Hebrews 13:15 (AMP) says:
…therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise,
which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

We should constantly and continually be offering up praise. Why?

Ephesians 1:6 (The Voice)
Ultimately God is the one worthy of praise for showing us His grace;
He is merciful and marvelous, freely giving us these gifts in His Beloved.

Psalm 103:2  (Amplified)
Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not [one of] all His benefits.

What would happen if we praised God when irritations arose—when we are exasperated, and down to our “very last nerve”—instead of complaining and bemoaning our fate? Oh, I am not saying there isn’t a valid reason for complaint. But imagine the difference if we brushed that irritation away using praise as our flyswatter, lifting our hearts up in praise of Him. Praise that He is in control, that He loves us. Praise that He has provided everything we need. Praise calms us. Praise quiets us. Praise feeds our soul. Not only would irritation and exasperation vanish, but our souls…our spirits would be filled. We would be refreshed. Like a tall glass of ice water physically refreshes us, praise spiritually refreshes us as we are reminded of His mercy and grace.

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What Do My Words Really Say?

May 11, 2014 by

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But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice;
let them ever sing and shout for joy,
because You make a covering over them and defend them;
let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits.
Psalm 5:11

Though we are not made righteous by our words, our words are evidence of our righteousness.  They give proof to our relationship with Christ.  Psalm 5:11 says the righteous rejoice, they shout with joy.  These are heartfelt, glorious outbursts of enthusiasm and joy.  Yet I tend to be more restrained for fear of offending. However, as Charles Spurgeon puts it “The ungodly are not half so restrained in their blasphemy as we are in our praise.”  Ouch!

Multiple times in the Book of Psalms alone we are told to rejoice:

Psalm 9:2 NIV
I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing the praises of Your name, O Most High

Psalm 32:11 NASB
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;

Psalm 33:1 AMP
Rejoice in the Lord, O you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you upright in right standing with God]; for praise is becoming and appropriate for those who are upright [in heart].

Psalm 64:10 NLT
The godly will rejoice in the Lord

Psalm 68:3 NLT
But let the godly rejoice.

I love that Psalm 33:1 says it …’is becoming and appropriate’ for the upright to rejoice. But do my words really matter?

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life
Proverbs 10:11

The words of the godly encourage (feed, nourish) many
Proverbs 10:21

…the words of the godly save lives.
Proverbs 12:6

I believe the answer is a resounding YES!  My words are a reflection of my relationship with Christ.  They are verbal evidence, living proof of that relationship.  So, I must ask myself:

  • Do my words exalt God; do they speak of my confidence in Him and His protection?  Or do they reflect the doubt of my circumstances?
  • Do my words consistently reflect the joy I have in Christ?  Or is the joy there only when it is smooth sailing?
  • Am I able to rejoice and praise God in the midst of the storm, taking refuge in Him alone?
  • Do my words enrich and encourage other, pointing the way back to my God?  What do my words really say about my God?

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Father God, thank You so much for Your blessings in my life.  I lift up Your Holy Name.  Let my words be a joyful reflection of Your love, offering a glimpse of what life with You is like.  May my words be consistent and my rejoicing unrestrained.  In Your precious and Holy Name I pray.  Amen, so be it.

 

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Persecution…Say WHAT?!?

May 5, 2014 by

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Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.   Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—
with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation,
regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you
and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.
Matthew 5:11 AMP

Have you ever thought of persecution as a good thing? Something to take joy in, to rejoice over? Nope, not me. Yet this verse states we are blessed if we are mocked, reviled, defamed, cursed or falsely accused. Say What?!? How can persecution possibly be good?

Look at it this way: persecution forces us to focus on what we believe, why we believe it, and what, (or Whom), we are suffering for. Living a “Kingdom life” for Christ’s sake is a display of our discipleship. Our values and morals are at odds with the world. Those who persecute us hope to tarnish our witness. And, our tormentors may not be just unbelievers. According to David Guzik empty religion hates genuine faith and rejects true faith. So we may be persecuted by so-called “Christians” as well. But consider this…if we weren’t living a radical life for Christ, we would go unnoticed. Right?

1 Peter 4:14 puts it like this:
If you are censured and suffer abuse [because you bear] the name of Christ,
blessed [are you—happy, fortunate, to be envied, with life-joy,
and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward condition],
because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, is resting upon you.

We can suffer and be persecuted for Christ only because He first became human to suffer for us. He was persecuted so that our suffering, our persecution would not be meaningless. Our suffering for His sake is a prelude to glory and joy. We are blessed because of the reproach, the defamation. It shows we are following Jesus, that we are being identified with Him. And the best part? Through our persecution, Christ is glorified. Hallelujah!   Can I get an amen?

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Lord, help us see persecution as a good thing, for it means we are following closely to You. Let our attitude through torment and trials bring glory and honor to You. Let us remain steadfast and remind us we can do ALL things through You, for in our weakness Your strength is perfected. In Jesus’ precious name, amen – so be it.

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Paving the Path

April 28, 2014 by

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Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!   Matthew 5:10 AMP

Today, many of us living in the United States feel we have never been truly persecuted for our beliefs…for doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord.  Oh, we may have been called into question for our actions or harshly criticized for our beliefs but persecuted?  Probably not.  Yet persecution has many forms and comes in varying degrees – from insults, harassment, and ostracism to imprisonment, torture, and even death. As representatives of Christ, the fact that we are a Christian will bother some people Our desire to live for Christ, our non-conformity to this world will bring persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12 assures us of this. “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

As Greg Laurie states: “If you live a godly life, you will be persecuted. It is not a matter of if; it is a matter of when and how much.”

Why the persecution?

If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you. John 15:19

The world cannot [be expected to] hate you, but it does hate Me because I denounce it for its wicked works and reveal that its doings are evil.                     John 7:7

For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.                                                                                               John 3:20

Persecution is a result of righteous living. Most of us have never experienced the harshest extremes of persecution.  Many of us never will.  But we will experience persecution in some form.  How we react to persecution, in any form, is what matters.  What happens when we are taken out of our comfort zone?  Are we steadfast, consistent, unwavering in the face of challenges?  Or do we run from confrontation and actively try to avoid persecution?  There comes a point in our lives where we must decide if we will stand for our Lord, no matter the cost.  It takes courage to stand for our faith.  The stand we take paves the way for others to follow.

He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray [but also] causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others.   Proverbs 10:17

Which path are we paving?

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Lord, help us to stand our ground and defend our faith no matter what the challenge.  With Your strength we can remain steadfast and unwavering in any situation. You were willing to die on the Cross for me.  Let me be willing to stand firm in doing what is right in Your eyes.  In Jesus’ name, amen…so be it.

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