Read 2 Timothy 3:1-17
"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
"No, no, no. Of course I'm not paranoid. It's just that everyone really IS out to get me!"
The old joke above should serve us as a timely reminder: The Scriptures tell us that we will be persecuted for our faith and godly way of living in Christ.
But that doesn't mean we'll ALL be persecuted ALL the time. And it certainly doesn't mean we
are to seek persecution as some sort of odd affirmation of our faith.
Yet I know people personally who really choose the least "tactful," most abrasive way to behave
when there's a choice in how they'll present their faith to others. It almost seems as though they are compelled to seek persecution.
Also, please remember this wise word I read somewhere recently: Disagreement is NOT the same as persecution. Have the grace to recognize when someone simply disagrees with you, or may not even like you, without seeing that as persecution for your faith!
How you react to others and how you choose to present or "live out" your faith today might certainly gain you persecution. But will it really draw others to Jesus and win them to Him??
[tags]persecution, disagreements, living out our faith, showing Christ to others, buy Bibles and more[/tags]
|
||||||
|
Posted on January 24th, 2008 by Gary
Filed under: What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
Leave a Reply