In Good Company

I can remember stomping my way into the kitchen where my mom was making dinner and declaring, "Everybody hates me!" Sound familiar? Did you voice the same idea when you were a child? It seemed very real at the time. Of course, mom would simply tell me that it was all in my imagination. And maybe it was back then. Children often feel left out and maybe even hated when their friends seem to gang up on them.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. (verse 18)

But, fast forward to adulthood. How does a statement like this go over now days? Have we just moved up from 'my teacher has it in for me', to, 'my boss is so demanding’? As children and then as grownups, we often feel picked on or pointed out. Jesus tells us to expect that sort of treatment.

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (verse 19)

We have been duly warned. The same world Jesus came to redeem, turned its back on Him. They killed him. We are His, we follow Him. Do we really think we will get out of it unscathed? One day they (the people) were singing His praises, they were waving palm branches and giving a hero's welcome. Less than a week later, they crucified Him.

We, His followers, can expect unfair treatment as well. It isn't easy to proclaim our faith in Jesus, but it is worth it. The original disciples experienced persecution, and hatred. It is likely some of their family members deserted them.

My own father called me a holy roller when he learned that I loved Jesus. We should expect this treatment undeserved though it may be. Jesus and His disciples experienced it, and numerous saints were martyred because of this love. We could be too. But always remember, we are in good company.

John 15:18-21

The Good Life

READ: Philippians 3:17-21

What do you picture when I speak of the good life? Let’s weigh some common responses against the example of Paul and the words of Christ. 

Beautiful beach sunset? Paul writes from prison. Happy to be there because his captivity is advancing the gospel. (Phil 1:12-18)

Attractive spouse? Paul is single and content to be so. A married person divides attention, seeking to please both God and spouse. The unmarried person is completely focused on how he can please the Lord. (1 Cor 7:7, 32-35)

Great wealth? Christ says, “Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions,” (Luke 12:15) and, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25)

Perfect health? Paul prayed for it. God said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9)

Great accomplishments? “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” (Phil 3:8)

Your many labors behind you? “If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.” (Phil 1:22)

The love and praise of everyone you know? Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” (Matt 5:11-12)

Our reward in heaven: Isn’t that really the good life? For what eye has seen, what ear has heard, what mind has conceived of the good things God has prepared for those who love him? (1 Cor 2:9)

You Are My Sunshine

Philippians 1:3-11

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you? Was it the unexpected loss of a loved one? The loss of your job or maybe even your career? The breakup of a relationship? For me, it was our first child who was still born.

We were young and excited to become parents. In preparation, we wallpapered the nursery; refinished the high chair that I had used as a baby; my wife’s sister gave us the crib her son had used; and we got lots of gifts at a baby shower. One of the gifts was from my Mom. It was a little stuffed wind-up sun that when you wound it up it played, “You Are My Sunshine”.

That night my wife stayed in the hospital and I came home to an empty house. It wasn’t a house filled with the joy of a newborn, but a house filled with emptiness. The high chair was in the kitchen never to hold our daughter. The nursery would never hear her cry or see her sleep. She would never hear “You Are My Sunshine”.

Paul knew what it was like to experience loss. In fact, he wrote to the Philippians while in prison; so he had lost his freedom to come and go as he pleased. One of the ramifications of that is he lost relationships because he couldn’t travel freely.

 Paul also wrote about being a “slave to Christ” which means that he willingly gave up

certain rights and relationships that he might have enjoyed otherwise. For instance, he might have gotten married had he not been so driven in his commitment of following Christ. All this to say that Paul knew the pain of loss.

Most of us will never experience the pain and suffering that Paul did due to persecution. But in this world you either already have experienced loss, pain and suffering, or you will at some time. When that happens Paul’s words to the Philippian believers should encourage you.

⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.    NLT

 It is Paul’s concern, goal and prayer for the Philippian church, as well as for you and me, that God’s good work is completed in us; that we keep our focus on our Lord. Maybe the writer of Hebrews said it best.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.           Hebrews 12:1b-2a NIV

Voice of the Martyrs

http://www.icommittopray.com/

Hebrews 10:32-35

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 

Have you ever had to suffer because of your faith? Have you ever been publicly exposed to insult and persecution? Our scripture passage today from Hebrews 10 is one that I admit, I can't relate to. 

I have never lived in a place where being Christian was cause for such conflict. Sure there are tensions today toward the church, but we still live in a free country where being a Christian is accepted. Others though, are not as lucky. I thought it would be good to share a story from, Voice of the Martyrs website, The following true story was posted on September 14th.

"Police in India arrested nine adults traveling with a group of 60 children to a Vacation Bible School (VBS) program this summer. The children and their chaperones sang Christian songs and read the Bible as they traveled by train, attracting the attention of a group of Hindu extremists. As soon as the train reached its destination, the militants called the police. When the police arrived, they arrested the adults and called the children’s parents to come pick them up. The adults were charged with kidnapping and converting people to another religion by force. After more than 40 days in jail, three of the adults were released on bail. The other six, however, are still being held. Pray that the jailed Christians will be released and that this experience will strengthen the faith of the children involved."

Here is another posted on September 14th.

“Vu” placed her faith in Christ earlier this year while working in the Laotian capital of Vientiane. Several months later, she shared her faith with her parents and brother in hope that they, too, would become Christians. Instead, they cursed her. They insisted that she abandon her Christian faith immediately or they would disown her as their daughter. Vu told them that she respected them but would not leave Jesus. Her parents later sent her brother and sister to persuade her to leave Christianity, but instead her sister became a Christian. “The younger sister is a new person now,” a VOM contact said. Please pray for these two young women as they minister to their family and encounter further hardships because of their faith.

If you, like me, have never had to endure such persecution we have much to be thankful for.  Let's take some time and pray for those who do struggle daily to stand firm in Christ.  Click here to read more stories and pray for those who are being persecuted.

Read today's entire passage here. HEBREWS 10:32-29

What’s on Your Checklist?

Acts 8:26-40

(Use the link below to read the verses.)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+8%3A26-40&version=NIV;MSG

 

 

There are a few small advantages to being slightly OCD. For instance, every morning before going to work, I go through a checklist. Wallet? Got it! Phone? Got it! Nook? Got it! Keys? Got it!

 

Each of these items are very important for my day, but none more important than my keys. That’s why when I get to work, before locking my car door, I do an abbreviated checklist. Keys? Got it! Then I know that I can get back into my car at the end of the day, as well as get into the office. Like I said, a few small advantages.

 

Keys are important. They unlock many things in our lives. The Word of God is key in unlocking hearts and opening people to God’s Spirit. Nobody knew that better than Phillip.

 

The setting of Acts 8 was a chaotic time of persecution for the followers of Christ. But little did Saul realize that he was actually playing right into God’s plan of redemption to take the Gospel to “Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth”.

 

And Saul just went wild, devastating the church, entering house after house after

house, dragging men and women off to jail. Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus. Going down to a Samaritan city, Philip proclaimed the Message of the Messiah.            Acts 8:3-5 MSG

 

Phillip went from one outcast people group (the Samaritans) to another (an Ethiopian gentile) sharing the Word to the “ends of the earth”.

 

Billy Graham in his sermons, was well known for the phrase, “the Bible says”. For him, the Word of God was the key to open the hearts of people searching for purpose in their lives. Not a magical key, like Simon the sorcerer was looking for, but a key that was “alive and active; sharper than any double edged sword”.

 

Maybe I should change my morning checklist. Wallet? Got it! Phone? Got it! Nook? Got it! Keys? Got it! Word of God? Got it!

 

What’s on your checklist?

 

 

 

 

 

It’s All Good

The Tree of Life

Revelation 22:1-5

 

“It’s all good”, is a popular response nowadays that means, nothing is bad. But the irony is that some things are bad, painful, irreversible and even life-changing. Is it all good after having a still born baby or when a family member dies unexpectedly? Is it all good when you get fired from your job of 30 years? Is it all good when a relationship is irreconcilable? Is it all good when life feels like there’s no hope?

 

At the time when John wrote the book of Revelation, the believers in Asia Minor were on the verge of suffering sever persecution for being a follower of Jesus. The Roman authorities were beginning to enforce emperor worship which would be unacceptable for a Christian.  What could this persecution mean for an individual?

 

“Nero was quite insane, and is reported to have tortured Christians with great cruelties for his own enjoyment. According to the Roman historian Tacitus:

Besides being put to death they [the Christians] were made to serve as objects of amusement; they were clad in the hides of beast and torn to death by dogs; others were crucified, others set on fire to serve to illuminate the night when daylight failed.”

 

“It’s all good”, would seem like a hollow response at best.

 

In the Book of Revelation, John gave the persecuted church a future with eternal hope through these words:

 

“And he pointed out to me a river of pure Water of Life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, ² coursing down the center of the main street. On each

side of the river grew Trees of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month; the leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. ³ There shall be nothing in the city that is evil; for the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.”          TLB

 

For the first century believers, as well as for us, these words bring great hope. It’s not that “it’s all good”, but we can have faith in a loving sovereign God that He has a future for us without pain and suffering. In other words, evil and pain do not have the last word… God does.

 

Now THAT IS all good.

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation%2022%3A1-5&version=NIV;TLB
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Rev.22.1-Rev.22.5


 

 

Blessed Persecution

 Jesus was preparing his disciples for the reality of persecution from the very early parts of his ministry.

Matthew 5:10-12: 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 (NASB).”

Jesus instructed his followers from the beginning of his ministry to understand their suffering persecution as a blessing, even to rejoice and be glad on these occasions of suffering. Jesus expected that his followers would suffer persecution.

Persecution is a time to rejoice:

“Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” (James 1:2). Can you think of a greater trial than being verbally abused or physically assaulted for your faith in Christ? Even in a trail like that, God would have us respond with joy. This “joy” is a not a result of the trial itself of course, but because of what the trial produces that is, steadfastness and ultimately becoming more like God wants you to be (James 1:3-4).

Persecution is a time of blessing:

At the end of the Beatitudes, Jesus said “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Mt. 5:10-11). According to Jesus we are “blessed” (a word here meaning “God approved”) when we are going through persecution either verbal or physical or both.

Persecution is a time for greater faith:

After telling them that they will be persecuted for the message they’re presenting, Jesus tells them to have no fear (10:26, 28, 31). When a Christian faces persecution it is with faith, not fear.

Persecution is a time to reach out to others:

The Christians being written to in Peter’s first letter were going through terrible persecution (1:6-7). During this time of persecution, Peter tells them to continue following God (1:13-19). Because they were redeemed by God to live a life for Him regardless of the trouble that may come, and because living for God in the midst of persecution could lead to the conversion of some who do not yet know Christ (2:11-12; 3:15)

The mission mantra – Be as sheep among wolves, wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Prepared by Diane Ward

Amazing Grace

Acts 7:57-58 (NIV) At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,  dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 

I remember stories my Religion teachers at Catholic grade school told about the persecution of the early Christians. These tales made me grip the edge of my seat when they would describe the living conditions underground in the catacombs of Rome.  I was mesmerized and also afraid I would never live up to such oppression.  The child in me was fearful I would be hurt or hungry; I never considered the cause for which they were suffering.

I still wonder if I would be up for the challenge and muster the courage of my convictions to withstand torture.  I think not.  I am a wimp, so weak in the flesh.  I run from danger; in other words I am a coward. How I would love to think I could be a beacon for others.  The truth is, I cannot do it, but God can.  God can take my weaknesses and use them to point to Him.

Can you imagine Saul’s feelings once he came to know Jesus?  The man with the new name, Paul, must have looked back at his past and cringed. What a great example for God to use to help you and I understand that if God changed Paul and can also change us.  

He can take our fear and turn it into trust.  He changed Paul into a man many listened to and heard. Paul was able to give testimony to the unconditional love of Jesus. Even though he helped put Saint Stephen to death because of his relationship with Jesus, God used Paul to build up the Church.  Paul proclaimed Jesus Christ until his death.  May I be equipped to do likewise. 

Acts 6:7-12, 7:54-60

Esther 3:1-9

Did you know God's name is not mentioned in the Hebrew text of Esther? But, the beautiful story it is all about faith and trust in the One True God. The story of Esther is also one of hatred of the Jews and revenge and deceit directed by Haman, the Kings most honored nobleman.  When Esther's Jewish caregiver, Mordecai, would not bow down and worship Haman, as the other royal officials did, Haman wanted to get even.  But he decided again killing Mordecai, making plans to destroy all of Mordecai's people.  This was a scary time to be Jewish.

Haman was a decedent of the Amalekites, ancient enemies of the Israelites.  The hatred he felt was ingrained in him from childhood much like the fabled Hatfield and McCoy feud.  Hatred knows no reasoning or rational, only revenge.

Mordecai's actions were not the safest ones to take, but he was a faithful man of God and would not worship other gods.  This did not make him very popular in the palace.  We can remember that Daniel's three friends had the same convictions.  Mordecai was also one of those who were taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar.

"When Haman saw for himself that Mordecai didn't bow down and kneel before him, he was outraged. Meanwhile, having learned that Mordecai was a Jew, Haman hated to waste his fury on just one Jew; he looked for a way to eliminate not just Mordecai but all Jews throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes." (Esther 3:5-6)

This is another story of pride getting in the way of loving our neighbor. We could parallel this story with our times today. Christians are often outcasts for attending church on Sunday or participating in a Christian Small Group when they could accept their neighbor's invitation to a round of golf instead of church. Because of our faith, our priorities are different. Because of Mordecai's belief in God, his priorities were different too.

Perhaps the parallel is unbalanced, but someday it won't be. Someday we will be persecuted severely, as many of our brothers and sisters in other countries are right now. Let's remember them in our prayers.

Read Esther 3:1-9 here

Listen to Esther 3:1-9 here

1 Peter 4:12-19

Do you find encouragement from your troubles? Do you jump for joy when sadness enters your world? Perhaps, after the fact, I am able to feel upbeat and reassured of God's presence.  Reading further in my commentary I understand what is being said; because Jesus was hated by the world, we are as well.  We are in good company.  In that respect, I feel much encouragement.  I consider it a privilege to be persecuted for the sake of Jesus.

At the same time, I feel totally inadequate and oh, so unworthy.  I believe I have written a couple times of my fears of not being up to the task.  I am afraid if push comes to shove I might not be willing to claim Jesus as my Savior.  I am not very brave, nor do I have a high tolerance for pain.  But, I do have faith and I do pray for God to 'help my unbelief'.


1 Peter 4:12 (NIV) 
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." 


The more I think about this, the more I realize that every season we encounter is one of testing and growing my/our faith.  The year our family experienced 3 deaths within 3 weeks of each other is one of the first examples I bring to mind.  This was early in my journey toward a personal relationship with Jesus.  It did make me stronger because I was forced to cling to my faith as my world was shaken.

So, what I am hearing these verses and some others say is this, "get ready, this is just the beginning.  Just because you are a Christians doesn't exempt you from pain, persecution or repression."  Life does not suddenly become all roses and chocolate.  Actually in some respects life gets a bit tougher because we can now see more clearly, especially when we are looking with our Spiritual Eyes (as Pastor Josh says).  When our Spiritual Eyes are working we see clearly those who are hurting and those who are causing the hurt.


Do you have any examples of this?  Are there painful trials you are suffering?

Read 1 Peter 4:12-19 here

Listen to 1 Peter 4:12-19 here