II Timothy 1:12 "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
If you are living for Christ Jesus and are living a godly life then you can probably testify that you have suffered persecution. This verse is a promise of God. I don't know anyone who has lived a godly life for the Lord that has not went through some sort of persecution. We will suffer persecution from family and friends. Not only our lost friends or co-workers either. We will also suffer persecution from our saved friends as well. It ought not be that way but unfortunately it is. God promises us that we will suffer persecution for living for Him.
I can tell you from personal experience that it is hard to live a godly life when you are going through persecution. It is harder to do with family than it is with friends. I've gone through it on both ends. I've had friends mock me and forsake me due to my personal convictions that God has given me. But I feel that I have to stand where God has told me and shown me in His Word to stand. He died for me....others didn't. So I will continue (by the grace of God and His help) to stand where God has told me to.
There was a time when my own parents and siblings forsook me and my husband and children for almost 9 years. I mean they had NOTHING to do with us. No birthday cards or Christmas cards or anything. That was very difficult to go through. Especially when my children were small and asking why Grandma and Grandpa wouldn't answer their letters. It was all because I had given my life to Christ. Then there were other family members in my husband's family that would give us a hard time about convictions that we had accepted into our lives concerning dress, music and movies that we wouldn't watch. Those things were hard to handle. But God gave us the grace and strength to stand anyway.
There are things that I stand for in my convictions that are not popular. After all...it is not popular to live for Christ. Although the things I stand for may not be popular...I have got to stand. What kind of testimony will I leave behind with my children and others that are watching my life if I waiver in my stand on things and issues when I have stood for so long on them. I want to leave behind a testimony with my family and friends that although they may not have agreed with where I stood on things that I remained faithful to the Lord on those things.
God has told us in His Word to "...Be ye holy; for I am holy." I Peter 1:16. This is a command of God. It is God's will to live a holy and consecrated life. If there is nothing in our life that sets us apart for Christ then we are not living as God has commanded. One thing is for sure...if you are living a holy and consecrated life then you WILL suffer persecution. If not from family and friends...then the world will persecute you. The world will not persecute it's own. So if you aren't or haven't been prosecuted in some way...I'd check up on my life if I were you and see if I'm living for God as I should be and as He has commanded that I do.
If someone were to accuse you of being a Christian (Christ-like)...would there be enough evidence to convict you?
7 comments:
This is a very true post. I would hope that not only my wife, or my church, but my co workers would be able to accuse me of being a Christian. I have suffered persecution also and it is sometimes hard to not give into what the world want but we must not. Good post Mrs Julie I guess you must be feeling a little better.
Bro Tim
This is an awesome post and so very true. God tell us that we will suffer persecution for being followers of him. It is very hard to go through. There are people in other countries who are beaten, tortured and even killed every day for their faith in God. Persecution is very real! I "Blog for the Persecuted" on my blog and I have had people leave comments and email me who did not even realize that persecution went on today and those people need to look at their life and make sure they are truly living for God just like you said.
Once again, awesome post! Thank you!
With Love in Christ,
Cindy
Thank you all for your comments.
Bro. Tim....I am feeling some better but will be a whole lot better tomorrow. Thank you for praying for me!!
Sis. Cindy...thank you for stopping by once again. Persecution is never easy to endure but it is worth it in the long run. My sister in law and her husband were some of the ones that would persecute us and since then her husband has gotten saved and they are both in church faithfully and are helping us in the church as well. It's a real blessing to see the results of being a testimony to others.
Sis. Kate...I too would like to be convicted of being a Christian. And what a sentence to receive....an eternity in Heaven with my Lord and Savior.
We will suffer persecution in this life for Him. But just think of the life we will have after we leave this old world.
I've always loved that last quote..."If someone were to accuse you of being a Christian, would there be anough evidence to convict you?" What a powerful thought!
Good post, Sis Julie. I hope there is enough evidence to convict me!
~Kristi
Excellent thoughts. I can't imagine being cut off by my parents/family for 9 years though. Most of them are not saved, but they haven't reacted as strongly as yours did. How hard for you! :~)
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