Persecution seems to be coming from all sides the last couple of weeks and sometimes it can make me wonder if we are doing the right thing. In addition to the aches and pains of pregnancy, my heart aches in a way I never imagined possible. I want to share what God is doing with those we love so badly. I want so badly for them to soften their hearts and really consider the words of God. Instead, they curse us, lie about us, mock us and slander our names to those we haven’t even been able to talk to. I find myself in pieces, questioning why God’s word says what it says. I question if we should really do what we have done in encouraging those we love to repent and truly come to Christ.
So I dig into His word, admittedly after a few aches and tears, and every single time His Word confirms our actions. Jesus said that he came not to bring peace but a sword. He came to divide His true body from the false believers.
Matthew 10 (KJV)
³⁴ Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
³⁵ For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
³⁶ And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household
Again and again we are told that there will be trials and tribulation and persecution in this life, even from our own flesh and blood!
Jesus also tells us that
Matthew 5 (KJV)
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¹⁰ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Luke 6 (KJV)
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²¹ Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
²² Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
We are promised blessing if we stand in His word when we are hated, mocked and reviled! We know that this life won’t be easy. After all Jesus does tell us to count the cost of following Him.
Luke 14:27-30
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Scripture makes it pretty clear that we can’t cherish anyone or anything more than Him and we are told to separate from those who claim Him but will not hear the truth of His Word or turn away from willful sin, no matter who it is.
2 Thessalonians 3:6
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”
2 Thessalonians 3 14-15
“And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
¹⁵ Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother”
In the middle of heartache and sadness I am reminded that we are on the right path. His words comfort my spirit. I pray you daughters of THE KING of Kings find this same comfort and confidence to keep pushing on….even in the midst of loneliness and sadness. Remember, dear sisters that the persecution we face here is nothing compared to the Kindom of Heaven and the blessing we are promised if we endure!