DRAWING NEAR
April 27
Are You Avoiding Persecution?
"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of
righteousness" (Matt. 5:10).
I heard of a man who was fearful because he was starting a new job
with a group of unbelievers whom he thought might give him a bad time
if they found out he was a Christian. After his first day at work his
wife asked him how he got along with them. "We got along just fine,"
he said. "They never found out I'm a Christian."
Silence is one way to avoid persecution. Some other ways are to
approve of the world's standards, laugh at its jokes, enjoy its
entertainment, and smile when it mocks God. If you never confront sin
or tell people Jesus is the only way to heaven, or if your behavior
is so worldly no one can distinguish you from unbelievers, you will
probably be accepted and won't feel the heat of persecution. But
beware!
Jesus said, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you. . . . Whoever
is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed
when He comes in His glory" (Luke 6:26; 9:26). The last thing anyone
should want is for Christ to pronounce a curse on them or be ashamed
of them. That's an enormous price to pay for popularity!
If you take a stand for Christ and manifest Beatitude attitudes, you
will be in direct opposition to Satan and the evil world system.
Eventually you will experience some form of persecution. That has
been true from the very beginning of human history, when Abel was
murdered by his brother Cain because Cain couldn't tolerate his
righteousness.
You should never fear persecution. God will grant you grace and will
never test you beyond what He enables you to endure (1 Cor. 10:13).
Nor should you ever compromise biblical truth to avoid persecution.
In Philippians 1:19 Paul says that persecution is as much a gift of
God as salvation itself. Both identify you as a true believer!
Suggestions for Prayer:
Memorize 1 Peter 2:20-21. Ask God to continually grant you the grace
to follow Christ's example when difficulties come your way.
For Further Study:
Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-33, noting the severe persecution Paul
endured for Christ's sake.
Drawing Near, Copyright c 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;
but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what
you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of
escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Philippians 1:19
19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through
your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ
1 Peter 2:20-21
20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults,
you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take
it patiently, this is commendable before God.
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps
2 Corinthians 11:23-33
23 Are they ministers of Christ?; I speak as a fool; I am more: in
labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more
frequently, in deaths often.
24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three
times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in
perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in
the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in
perils among false brethren;
27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and
thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness;
28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep
concern for all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do
not burn with indignation?
30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my
infirmity.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed
forever, knows that I am not lying.
32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the
city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and
escaped from his hands.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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