All Will Suffer for Christ

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Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Devotion:

            Why do we as Christians seem surprised when we feel even the slightest opposition to the gospel message? We take it personally whenever a new law is passed that affects our religious freedom. We draw an indignant breath at every story of a believer either here in the states or around the world suffers in the slightest for our faith.

            The scripture above I believe we can take as a promise to us as Christians. While it does not issue from the lips of our savior himself. We can trust Paul’s words here. Paul knew what it was like to be persecuted for his faith. He had suffered beatings, imprisonments, and all manner of evil done against his person because he dared proclaim that Christ was Lord and Caesar was not. He knows what he is talking about when he talks about persecution for the sake of his faith.

            Before he was even a Christian, he persecuted Christians for their faith sometimes even to their deaths. He had witnessed countless acts of violence directed at people of faith. He had seen fellow believers detained and abused by the Roman and Jewish authorities for clinging to the hope that we have in Christ. Namely the resurrection from the dead. Paul knew that he could make this promise to believers that if they decided to follow Jesus and back up their words with actions persecutions would inevitably follow.

            So why do we today turn aside whenever we fear that we may get in trouble for what we believe? I fear it is because we have fallen victim to what some have called “cheap grace.” We have lived so long in relative ease and comfort we have concluded that is what the Christian life is all about. It works like this, first we make a profession of faith, then we go on living as if nothing has changed, and at the first hint of trouble we fall way thinking it is just not worth the cost to follow Jesus

            Unfortunately, the long witness of the Christian church from the stoning of Stephen (Acts chapter 7) to the current persecution of Christian minorities in the Muslim majority countries all speak of a faith that has a serious cost to it. Even here in the United States of America and throughout the western world the title Christian has a significant cost to it. And I fear the pressure on Christians to give up on the faith will only get stronger not weaker. What are we as Christians called to do in times like these?

            Our response should be the same as the Christians heroes and martyrs throughout history. We must place our faith in Jesus no matter what happens. We must stand and defend the most holy faith that so many have died for in the course of history. Let us be filled with the Holy Spirit’s strength for such a time as this. Let us pray.

Prayer:

            Lord strengthen us to live a life devoted to you. May we stand by our faith in the risen savior. May we speak calmly and firmly of the truth of Jesus’ life regardless the personal cost to us. May we not lose heart when we face opposition for the gospel but speak with courage and conviction the great gospel message of eternal life in Jesus. Keep us in your care knowing your plan for us will be for our everlasting good. Amen.

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