“Suffer Persecution” (2 Tim 3:12)

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (vs12).

We will not live godly and escape rejection and persecution from men. We can't honor Christ, loving people openly in a way where they see Him, and men not reject us who reject the Savior. He said, “If they have called the master of the house [devil possessed], how much more will they call those of his household (Matt 10:25)?” You can't preach Christ in a way to avoid persecution, unless you change the doctrine or hold silence. But, to honor God, says God, requires that we endure the grief of sinners, as they BITE the helping hand they receive.

Don't be discouraged. You were this way, ruined in sin, and God got you the gospel. Don't be discouraged. The Lord will pull you from the fire, after you have suffered a while. Paul wrote faithfully, “But you have carefully followed my teaching, manner of life,, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra – what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me” (vs10-11). Like Jeremiah, He'll pull you from the pit, and you shall win ultimately. He told him, “And I will make you to this people as fortified bronze wall; and they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the Lord” (Jer 15:20).

The remedy for man's hatred is not to HIDE or alter the gospel; it is NOT to lower the terms. The remedy is the comfort God gives to the afflicted. He says, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets” (Luke 6:22-23). You see the heavenly reward causes us JOY even now?

The hope of heaven, which is the truth of Christ's gospel, gets us through the day, not being cowardly before men. Many hate the offense of Christ's gospel, so they hold back the truth, proving their lack of faith, and reaping a low reward. But, those men and women... those godly laboring churches... that in spite of hatred, KEEP stretching forth Christ shall not only rejoice eternally, but we are comforted with joy, even now. We're blessed of God, though the world hates us, and His blessing TRIUMPHS over the misery of life, even as heaven conquers death, and doing God's will conquers the power of sin with pleasure. When the disciples were beaten for Christ, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer, so that the SUFFERING believer has help from God that you couldn't experience without the need. Suffering for Christ is FOR our good; He uses it to increase our assurance, power, and love.

Be wise. You will be hated, so hold fast to Who loves you.