With Persecution

“…Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel’s … he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses and brethren … and lands with persecution; and in the world to come eternal life “ (Mark 10:29-30).

Our Lord Jesus made it clear that a “disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord” (Matthew 10:24). If the master suffered adversity, so will the disciple. As such, the disciples of Jesus Christ willingly took up their cross and followed the Lord, holding on to all the promises of the Master no matter what awaited them. However, there is a contrast between the early disciples of Christ and believers of today.

In line with our text above, believers always crave the hundredfold portion of God’s blessings but not willing to give up anything and to face any difficulty. Apostle Paul exemplary gave his all and counted all things but loss and dung that he may win Christ (Philippians 3:8). He was willing to be persecuted and even to die for the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 21:13), that he may receive the crown of righteousness as a promise of the Lord (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

 ‘We can’, was the response of James and John when Jesus asked if they could drink of the cup that He drank and be baptized with the baptism that He was baptized with” (Mark 10:38-39). This shows how devoted the disciples were to the Master but believers of today only lay claim to the cozy parts of the promises of the Lord but are not ready to toil and suffer for the prize.

Our anthem as Christians should be as the songwriter puts it:

“…Not for ease or worldly pleasure,

Not for fame my prayer shall be,

Gladly will I toil and suffer,

Only let me walk with thee…”

We must be ready to suffer and be persecuted for the Lord’s sake, knowing well that there is always a cross before a crown. And this did Jesus Christ reveal that to possess the blessings of the Lord, it comes with persecution.

No Christian can do without persecutions from time to time for “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). But we are to wait on the Lord; be of good courage… and fear not because the Lord has overcome the world for us. In Christ Jesus we are more than conquerors (Psalm 27:14; John 16:33; Romans 8:37).

Living the Christian life is not as bed of roses. It is demanding and rigorous but the Lord has promised to be with us always even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). Thus, we should feel blessed to be persecuted for Christ’ sake for indeed, great is our reward in heaven… (Matthew 5:10-12).

Any Christian without persecution from time to time should take heed and examine his life whether he is still in the faith. There will always be persecution for the believer in this world and whosoever desires the riches of the Lord in hundredfold, it is with persecution. For it is “…through much tribulation that we must enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you and your family. Amen.

== Written by Jacobs Adewale (Admin) ==

THE TRUTH MEDIA

…building the body of Christ.