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The right attitude, when persecuted

By Pastor Lazarus Muoka
06 August 2017   |   4:23 am
Beloved, no matter how well we live, how much we give or how much evil we are exposed to in the world, as long as we are sincerely following Jesus Christ we will surely suffer persecution.

Pastor Lazarus Muoka

Beloved, no matter how well we live, how much we give or how much evil we are exposed to in the world, as long as we are sincerely following Jesus Christ we will surely suffer persecution.

The Scripture says, “but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings. When His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified,” (1 Pt4:13-14.

If any man suffers as a Christian, he should not be worried or ashamed because it is expected of him to suffer persecution. He should regard it as his identification with Christ. He should not be ashamed to be called a Christian or to be identified with the Saviour whom he professes to love. He should not be ashamed of the society or to be a member of a true Christian fellowship or, even, preach the gospel.

Christians should know that a believer is called to suffer, just like Christ. You may be reviled and despised because you are a Christian, rejoice because you have been identified with the Lord.

We may feel the suffering, but grace abounds, because we have a Saviour Who has overcome the world.

How we react to the unjust reveals the glory of Christ, Who lives in us. Let the righteous continue to be righteous in the face of unjust treatment, we should remain in the righteousness of Christ. We must be righteous when others are unrighteous. We should always let our light shine in the face of unholy acts, heresy and blasphemous deeds around us; we are to remain holy, separate and sanctified.

As we all know that fire is used to purify gold and to bring it to an acceptable standard. In the other hand, when God wants to refine us He uses fiery trials to bring us to His acceptable standard. Whenever you see someone whose life reflects the life of Christ, you are sure that you are seeing somebody who had gone through persecution. Nothing brings wholesomeness to character and commitment to the heart like adversity.

Are you facing some challenges in your life now? Are you been accused, reviled, disparaged or scorned for preaching to people? Are you thinking that God has abandoned you and allowed your enemies to do all manner of evil things against you? Rejoice, for God knows everything about you.

He is refining you to His acceptable standard. Do not be disheartened for the hand of God is on thermostat of your life monitoring the temperature required to burn away the things that hinder His purpose in your life. He will finish the work soon and you will come out stronger in patience, prayer, faith and lots of other character.

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