Daily Devotional For Monday, July 22, 2024

Merry Monday folks. I know for some of you, it is back to work today. Being a Christian years ago in this country meant we lived lives that were not ridiculed by our government nor were we ridiculed for our faith by others. A lot has changed since I was a kid and teen. We constantly see how this government of ours that supposedly believes in freedom of religion targets Christians for their faith. Because we are conservative and take a biblical and moral opposition to certain political hot-topics, we now have a target on us. 

Look at 1 Peter 4:12-13:

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. (13) Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world” (NLT).

While some may read these words by Peter and moan, in some way, they remind us that if we are not targeted, then we are no different than the world. Jesus told us this in John 15:18-19:

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first.  (19) The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you” (NLT). 

Why was Christ hated by the world? Because He exposed the world for what it is — a world that loves religion and idols. The word worships the idea that we can somehow earn or accomplish salvation by works or being a good person — “good” as defined by the world. When Jesus said this in John 8:12, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (NLT). The world view is narrow-minded thinking. When Jesus said this in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Me” (NLT), Jesus is being elitist. 

When the Bible says this in Acts 4:8-12,

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, (9) are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? (10) Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. (11) For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ (12) There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (NLT).

Then we are being exclusive and closed-minded. Peter reminds us life can be hard—sometimes very hard. We live in a sin-filled world, and we should not be surprised when we bump against evil, hardship, difficult people, health challenges, and more. We can’t control everything that will come our way, but we can control our responses. Peter says in 1 Peter 4:12-13 instead of becoming angry when we face trials, we should expect them and face them with gladness. Why? Because those things make us partners with Christ in His suffering. Then, as we better comprehend His suffering on our behalf, we are better able to appreciate the magnitude of His glory.

Jesus said this in Matthew 10:22, “And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (ESV). In the Beatitudes, Jesus said this in Matthew 5:10-12:

”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” (NLT).

Jesus said that we are not to complain when we come under attack for our Christian faith, but be happy when that happens. Happy? Really? Yes. Why? Because it proves we are in this world but not of it (see John 17:11, 14-15). When we are persecuted or mocked for our faith, we are prone to wonder if God still loves us. Peter is writing his Epistle just after Nero had burned Rome and went on a killing spree to kill Christians. Nero blamed Christians for the fire and Christians became an easy target. Here is what pastor and author John MacArthur writes:

“As the fire destroyed most of the city’s districts, he (Nero) watched gleefully from the Tower of Maecenas. Roman troops prevented people from extinguishing the fire and even started new fires. The disaster thoroughly demoralized the Romans because many lost nearly all their earthly goods and found their civic pride scorched as well. With public resentment toward him at a high level, Nero diverted the focus away from himself and made the Christian community the scapegoat for the fire. Nero’s ploy was a clever one because Christians in the Roman Empire were already the unjust targets of much hatred and slander. Unbelievers falsely reported that Christians consumed human flesh and blood during the Lord’s Supper” (Source: John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, “1 Peter,” p. 247).

Since Christians said they bore the light of the world, Nero had Christians dipped in tar and then tied to post and set ablaze as light. Nero had Christians thrown into the arena to be devoured by lions all for sport as Roman citizens placed bets on how long a Christian would survive. Nero crucified Christians for fun so that they would die as Jesus did. So, when Peter uses the term “fire,” he was referring to both literal fire and figurative fire.

Peter makes it clear in his choice of Greek terms that this persecution is not accidental. His use of [συμβαίνω, sumbaino], which is translated as “happening,” does not mean by chance or accident. It is intentional. The Gospel is offensive and those of us who obey it, live it out in their lives, will be offensive to this world. 

As we take a stand against abortion, against recreational drugs, living together, premarital sex, and etc., we will be considered narrow-minded, bigoted and out-of-touch. When society begins to lose its moral fiber, its protective covering all then leaves all exposed to the dangers of subjectivism. Let me close with words from Jesus in Matthew 10:35-38:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the world. No, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. (35) I came to set sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law; (36) your worst enemies will be the members of your own family. (37) “Those who love their father or mother more than me are not fit to be My disciples; those who love their son or daughter more than me are not fit to be My disciples. (38) Those who do not take up their cross and follow in My steps are not fit to be My disciples. (39) Those who try to gain their own life will lose it; but those who lose their life for My sake will gain it” (GNT).

Jesus' point is that it should be normal for the world not to love us nor like us. If they do, then we are both in the world and of it.  And that is the rub isn't it? We want to be both loved and liked. James 4:4 says this: "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (ESV). So, we have to choose who is the better friend: the world or the Savior of the world -- Jesus Christ?

Questions To Consider

1. Are you surprised or shocked when someone mocks you or makes fun of you for your Christian faith? Jesus said this should happen, so why do you think we are shocked when it does happen?
2. Just as in Nero’s time when Christians were already a target due to their beliefs, we are today as well. Liberal media outlets and liberal politicians and liberal entertainers mock us and our faith. Our response should never be one of anger or verbal put downs. Jesus commanded us to pray for our enemies, and to do good to our enemies (Luke 6:27-28). Why is this so challenging for us to do? Is it for you? If so, why?
3. Jesus said in Matthew 10:35-38 that He came to bring a sword dividing family members. Has your faith in Christ ever been an issue of question or put downs by your own family? If so, how did you handle it and what have been the results since?
4. Peter said the attacks on us are not accidental, but deliberate. Why? Two main reasons. First, we bear the image of God, which the devil hates. Second, if we have accepted Christ, the devil hates Christ. He tried multiple times in the Gospels to kill Jesus, seduce Him to sin and to turn back from the cross. We remind the devil that not “even the gates of hell can prevail against His church” (Matt. 16:18). When the devil sees us saved and redeemed Christians, he sees defeat for himself. How does this help us deal with attacks on our faith?

Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 5:43-47 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and ‘Hate your enemy.’ (44) But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (45) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (46) If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? (47) And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?” (ESV).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, please help me love those, do good to those and pray for those who mock me for my faith in You. I trust Your word where my battle is not against flesh and blood, but against demonic spirits in this world (Eph. 6:12). Since I represent You in this world and the devil hates you, naturally he and his demons are going to hate me also. And when it comes to my own family who may not understand my relationship to You, please give me grace with them as my discipleship with You divides and splits my own family.  I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside—Pastor Kelly