The Blessing of Persecution?

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.” (Matthew 5:11, NASB).

Being persecuted for what we believe as a Christian is never easy. Yet this is a part of what it means to follow Christ. It should not surprise us when people speak evil of us, insult us, and belittle us for living Christ. What's more interesting is the fact Jesus says such people are "blessed." More about that later. The Apostle Paul echoes Jesus’ words in today’s text, when he wrote: “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Tim. 3:12, NASB). Do you ever wonder why you don’t suffer persecution for the name of Christ, or that you really don’t see fellow Christians suffering for the name of Christ? The answer is this, because we are really not living Christ before a godless world. Our problem is we have become too comfortable, complacent, and worldly in this present evil world. We are supposed to be salt and light to a world of perishing sinners. Yet, we live our lives as though we don’t know God, nor the need all around us. Are we really loving our neighbors by remaining silent? Noted revivalist writer, Leonard Ravenhill wrote: “The early Church was married to Poverty, Prisons, and Persecutions. Today, “The Church” is married to Prosperity, Personality, and Popularity.” This quote is definitely an accurate description of today’s Church. We are too busy compromising our faith to be popular in the world, rather than stand for God’s truth and suffer persecution. If the truth be told, we as the Church are more married to the world then we are to Christ! I came across a quote recently that said this, “A man who won’t die for something, isn’t fit to live”—Martin Luther King Jr. The fear of death is a snare, the Christian martyrs of old knew this. So they learned to die to themselves first until they feared disobeying God more than they feared death. It is when the fear of death loses its hold on us that we find the freedom to really live for Christ. Just as the blood of Christ gave birth to the Church, so the blood of the martyrs from the past and the present was and still is the seed of the Church. As mentioned earlier, such Christians who are persecuted for their faith in Christ are "blessed." First, they are blessed in sharing in the sufferings of Christ (see Phil. 3:10). Second, they are blessed in that such persecution reveals whether they are truly identifying with Christ or the world (see 1 John 2:15). Third, they are blessed in that such persecution has a way of testing our true motives in following Christ. Are we in it for Christ, or ourselves?

Lord, we know the fear of man is a snare to our soul, just as the fear of death is. Lord, help us to settle the matter forever about fearing persecution for your name. Help us to count it our privilege to suffer persecution for your honor and glory. In Christ’s name. Amen.

DON'T JUDGE ME UNTIL YOU ARE PERFECT

Came across this quote from a friend's post here on Facebook. It reads as follows:

"Judge me when you're perfect. Shut up when you're not." -Author Unknown.

Actually, the logic in this quote above is faulty, in that it dismisses any judgment on the grounds that nobody is perfect, therefore it manipulates people into silence, when judgment is really needed on serious matters. Besides, the quote contradicts itself anyway by judging people into silence. So on this grounds, the author of this quote is guilty of judging, which the logic behind this quote doesn't allow him or her to do, since they too are not perfect. Therefore, they are judged into silence as well.

Now having said the above, I realize there are times when bad judgment is made against someone. For example, judging someone in haste without knowing all the facts, especially when they are found to be innocent is never good. It is bad judgment on the part of him or her who judged. The fact is, we all make judgment calls on a daily bases. We judge what we are going to do, what we are going to wear, what we are going to eat, what is safe, or what is harmful, etc. The fact is we ALL judge. When we are going to judge another person on an issue, or their behavior, we should make sure we know the facts before making a judgment. For those who hastily judge others, will soon find themselves being judged in haste. So if we judge others, let's be sure it is done in righteous judgment.

The fact is, we should always judge our own personal lives first, and make any wrongs or offenses we've committed against others right. Then we will be in a better position to see and judge more clearly and compassionately the offenses and wrongs others commit against us. Like the Lord Jesus says, "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:5, NASB).

Lord God, sometimes we come across as being judgmental to others. Help us to be wise in our judgments. Too often we judge others without knowing all the facts, or the motive behind why such a judgment was made. We all make judgments on a daily bases. It is a part of life. Lord, when we make a judgment call on someone, help us to judge with righteous judgment. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

PROPHET, PRIEST, AND KING

“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground...”  

(Isaiah 53:2,  NKJV).

“Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; his branches run over the wall.” 
(Gen. 49:22, NKJV).

“Rod budded, blossomed, and yielded fruit.” 
(Num. 17:8).

Firstly, the phrase “a tender plant” speaks of the birth of Christ. It speaks of newness of life. Now the term, “a root out of dry ground” speaks of Christ as that divine life which sprang forth from the dry, arid, deadness of humanity under the curse of sin. (See  Isa. 53:2; Matt. 1:18; John 3:3, 7; Rom. 5:12).  Secondly, we have “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; his branches run over the wall.” (Gen. 49:22, NKJV). The words, “a fruitful bough” carries with it three truths from this text. (1.) To begin with, the “bough” was “fruitful.” (2.) The green leaves speak of life; (3.) whereas, the fruit speaks of what that life produces. Its fruit is produced for one purpose to give sustenance and life to others. Joseph was a fruitful bough because the hand of the Lord was with him in delivering the world at that time from starvation. No wonder the Pharaoh called him, “Zaphnath-paaneah” [One translation of this Egyptian name is “Savior of the world,”] (see Gen. 42:45, 55-57). Thirdly, Aaron’s “rod budded, blossomed, and yielded fruit.” (Num. 17:8). This of course, spoke of the chosen one, the high priest Aaron chosen by God among the other Jewish candidates for the office of high priest. Aaron represents the greater High Priest to come. 

Are not all three of these points revealing of Christ’s person? First, the “tender plant” reminds us of Christ’s birth and genealogy. He is the seed of king David. So here we have Jesus’ royal lineage as the King who will sit on David’s throne.  Second, we have Joseph as a type of Christ described as “a fruitful bough.” Since Joseph was able to interpret dreams, he can be seen as a type of prophet. So here we see Christ pictured in Joseph as a Prophet. Third, we have Aaron’s “rod budded, blossomed, and yielded fruit.” So in Aaron we see Christ pictured as our great High Priest. In Conclusion, we can see from these three points the threefold ministry of Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King. Only the order is in reverse. Why is that? I believe the order refers to the life of Christ. First, the tender plant refers to the birth of Christ into the world; next, the fruitful bough speaks of the life, death, and the resurrection of Christ; lastly, Aaron’s rod that “budded, blossomed, and produced fruit” reveals Christ as our Great High Priest who sits triumphantly in the heavens (see Heb. 4:14-16; 7:25).

Lord, thank You for being our great Prophet, Priest, and King. As we trace Your birth, life, death, and resurrection here on earth, which are recorded in the pages of Scripture, we are comforted with the fact You fulfilled all the Scriptures concerning yourself. We praise, adore, and worship you in Christ Jesus’ most precious name, Amen.