Preparation for Persecution

December 28, 2006

Lar,

Thanks so much for your periodic reminders regarding the persecuted church. We all need it. That is for sure. So your post got me to thinking, as I suppose you hoped it would: What is the primary way the Lord prepares His people for persecution (or any kind of difficult related to following Jesus)?

I look forward to your answer. Here is the first thing that comes to my mind. Actually, I suppose it is two things, but they relate quite well. Either way, here they are.

First, I think He prepares us for persecution and difficulty by setting before us His life. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with much grief. Jesus didn’t live the easy life. Of course, for His first thirty years, we don’t know much of what happened. His life might have been somewhat normal. However, either way, for the Son of God to come and become man and live like one of us and undergo the same kinds of temptations and difficulties of life that we endure, His life was anything but easy. I don’t care if He lived in the suburbs of Nazereth (which of course didn’t exist then, but follow along), if He was anywhere on this fallen planet, His life wasn’t easy. No one’s life is easy. He became like His brothers in every respect so that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest. This is all-encompassing.

Then when He enters His ministry, He shows us anything but the easy path. Those who subscibe to the ‘health and wealth’ Jesus must of necessity dimantle their Bible in the process. He begins by fasting for 40 days and being tempted by the devil. He had no where to lay His hand. He was busy all the time. He couldn’t go anywhere without being pushed upon by the needy. He led a group of knuckle-heads (which we all are) who couldn’t ‘get’ His mission no matter how much He spoke of it. Those whom He poured His life into finally leave Him, one betrays Him and He is strung up on a cross to die in complete innocence (the only innocent death ever). And we are called to ‘follow Him.’ That, in and of itself, should be enough to make it plain what kind of life awaits those who profess to follow Jesus.

But there is a second thing I would mention. I won’t take the time to cite all the various verses, but would simply like to ask: How often did Jesus warn us of suffering or simply state that suffering and persecution were a given for those who follow Him? The answer is plain. Time and again we hear Jesus say things like “A servant is not greater than his master, nor a disciple his teacher. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household?” On and on we could go. Simply put, I believe that Jesus prepares His people for suffering by doing all He can to take out the element of surprise. Of course, we need to read our Bibles to hear such teaching. The lack of Bible study is a main reason why people are taken off guard when difficulty comes. But if we search the Scriptures and look and listen to Jesus, difficulty is just a ‘given.’ It’s the life we embrace as our own.

Those are two quick answers. I look forward to your thoughts. May the Lord continue to abound in grace and teach us to embrace a difficult and wearisome life on this earth for the glory of His great name! May He grant us grace to truly follow Jesus!

Seeking to follow Him with you,

Joe

Posted by Joe | Filed Under Random Musings 

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