2 Timothy 3:12 ESV “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

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From the first day Jesus started His public ministry they tried to throw Him over a cliff. (Luke 4:28-30) Is your teaching so strong that people want to kill you? You’re in good company. (Acts 21:30-32) Do people lie and spy on you hoping to catch you doing something wrong? And when they can’t find fault with you do they make things up? They lied and spied on Jesus all the time. If this is happening to you rejoice! You’re one of the blessed few:

Matthew 5:10-12 NIV “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. [12] Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

1 Peter 4:14 NLT “If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.”

The glory of God; the spirit of God, is resting on you if you’re mistreated for Christ’s name. How often do people say, “I’m blessed,” but never refer to their sufferings for Christ when they say it? It’s because they don’t understand what it means to suffer for Jesus. A true disciple of Jesus will suffer persecution like Jesus. If no one is lying on spying on or wants to harm you because of your faith there should be concern. Instead of following Christ, you may be mincing your words and behavior to fit in. Saying exactly what Jesus says and agreeing with Him makes you a target. And it makes folks uncomfortable, so uncomfortable they want to kill you: 

John 15:20-21 NIV “Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. [21] They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.”

There are the Master’s own words. All who desire to live for Jesus Christ will be persecuted. That’s why I say if you’re not experiencing persecution for your faith you should be concerned. There is no way you can be following Jesus and not be persecuted He says. 

I encourage you and me not to be one of those lukewarm Christians who want to fit in with the world. I want to encourage us to accept our sufferings like good soldiers of Christ. (2 Timothy 2:3-4) You can’t avoid suffering. We can choose to suffer now or suffer later. Suffering for Christ now is way better than denying Him and suffering forever in the lake of fire. (Revelation 21:8)

2 Timothy 2:12 KJV “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.”

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