Just A Thought

2Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

It seems to me of late that the amount of publications and comments on persecution appear to be more geared towards sympathy for the ungodly as though they are the ones persecuted somehow. 

Those seeking to live godly lives in Christ become accused of being critics even if they live their lives quietly because a life lived for Jesus Christ declares righteousness even when the mouth is silent.  I will agree that those who make it a practice of being obnoxious or hateful should not claim they are persecuted for this reason stated.  No one likes arrogant, conceited and hateful people who speak down to others.  But can we honestly say that the arrogant superior minded believer is in the majority?  It hasn't been my experience.

Meanwhile, it would appear that the ungodly falsely accuse and criticise the godly and find sympathizers within the church to support their claims.  Some seem to wish to define love as never saying anything to another person regarding the danger of sin.  It is becoming more and more acceptable to think that living as the world does in order that they will not think Christians are mean or out of touch is the way to be relevant.  So those who think differently and actually seek to live differently in devotion to Christ are persecuted for it.

I have never known anyone to seek out a homeless man for advice on new home purchases or becoming rich, or an addict on how to kick a habit.  People who know they are in bondage, or who wish to succeed, generally seek out those who have proven themselves.  They look for the ones who appear to have an answer.

If sinners are to find the grace available to them through Jesus Christ they must observe it at work in the lives of His followers.  Should this not lead them to expect that believers in Jesus would be different in some way and speak the truth in love to them?  The Law will have to be used lawfully in proving that sin is exceedingly sinful and destructive before the grace offered through faith in Jesus Christ will be amazingly glorious and wonderful. This means, like it or not, morality will have to be discussed on some level with those who live ungodly lives.

To speak with any authority on the subject of morality grace should be effectively producing the fruit of righteous behavior in us.  We do not do good to earn anything from God, but we do obey the Spirit and cooperate with His work of sanctification in our lives. He leads us out of our old ways of living independent of Christ and doing our own things, into a life surrendered in obedience to Christ.  Living "In Christ" means we will be a reflection of His character and attitude in life.  Like Jesus we will live to bring honor to the Father.

This is why we must be reconciled to realizing that, "those who live godly "in Christ" will suffer persecution.

I seem to recall that most of the multitudes who at one time followed Jesus for the fishes, loaves and miracles deserted Him when the going got tough and may have been part of the crowd shouting crucify Him before Pilot.  To argue that only the religious leaders persecuted Jesus would be a complete denial of the facts represented in Scripture regarding the crowds at the trial of Christ.  Society turned out to turn against the Savior on that day.

If they persecuted Jesus, why not those of us who follow Him? 

Have you experienced the fulfilment of that prophecy and promise of persecution yet?