Jesus said "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3:12)
"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12)
We need to be careful and make sure our life does not look the same as anything else that is of the world. If we are not being persecuted in any way or even being different or just having people think we are strange then we have a problem because it says in scripture that ALL who want to live a godly life in Jesus WILL be persecuted. If this is not happening then we have to ask the question of whether we are actually seeking to live a godly life. One thing we have to be careful about is that we don't water down our message to stop it being offensive or to stop people persecuting us or to make it more attractive to the world.
But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. (Galatians 5:11)Obviously we don't go around trying to offend people but we must not compromise the gospel to try and make it easier for ourselves. The message of Christ is folly to those who are walking in the flesh - we preach Christ crucified - but it is the power of God to those who are being saved.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but 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 also keep yours. (John 15:18-20)The message of the gospel is most powerful when it is uncompromised because God uses this message to save those he calls but those who he does not call will think it folly anyway. We can press on in the knowledge that Jesus knows our suffering. We are not alone in our suffering - there is nothing we experience that has not been experienced by our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18)How should we respond to persecution and suffering then? I think we should follow Jesus' example - blessing those who curse us and praying for those who persecute us. It may not be easy but it is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:18-24)We do not need to revenge ourselves or others we know because we have been forgiven by the one who judges justly and have assurance of salvation at the day of Jesus Christ. We know that he will judge and he will make the right judgement so we can leave it to him and love those who hate us, praying that they too may receive this eternal treasure.
When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. (1 Corinthians 4:12-13)
Know that Jesus is still in control and he will never let you go. When we display Christ death in our body he will manifest his life in us. We will not be overcome by those who persecute us - we do not need to fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)Stand firm - Display Christ - Press On - Don't Compromise
