Persecution

Throughout the world we see more persecution of Christians than any other time in history.  In America we have been sequestered from this persecution and in fact you may not even know of the worldwide attack on Christians. I ponder if we have shut ourselves in Christian circles and shut ourselves from the world of need and consequently the chance of suffering for Christ.  How are we interacting with the lost, broken and angry that Jesus loves and once wept over?

Matt. 5:10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

Teaching about Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

The time is fast approaching where we as Christians will have to make a choice.  Will we be the light or will our salt loose its flavor?  So, it will quickly come to this question.  Will I stand for God’s truth or not?  Will I be willing to call sin for what it is, or will I quietly go into the night?  The darkness wants to consume this world, it is only the influence of Christians that holds it at bay. 

The day will come when Christians will no longer be in the world, on that day darkness and sin will rule supreme.  But until that day comes, we are to be the light and witness what happens when the salt of the kingdom seasons the earth. 

With this in mind, being the light comes at a cost. Look at the candle, it will give light to a room, but it must give itself to do so, in the end the candle is consumed by the task of lighting a room.  Are we willing in the short time that is left to be consumed for God’s light to be shown for the world to see?  Knowing that in shining forth the light the world will hate and attack us.  Yes, it’s easy to be a Christian when we sit safely in our pews.  What happens when we get out of our seats and stand for God?  We were never meant to stay in the church.  It was always our mission to go into the world and to stand for truth.  So, let us go forth with the power of God’s love.  We have the living water that a thirsty world is so desperately searching for in all the wrong places.  Let us boldly shine our light into the darkness.

Matt. 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.