“As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” (James 5:10-11 ESV)
When we who are disciples of Jesus Christ share with others the truth of the gospel, as taught by Jesus and by his New Testament apostles (in context), depending upon where we live, and the culture around us, including the Christian culture, may depend upon what kind of responses we might receive. For example in America the Christian culture at large is fairly worldly and driven much by the culture and by the world. So the gospel largely being taught is an altered gospel aimed at appeasing human flesh.
So if you are one who is teaching what Jesus and his New Testament apostles taught, in context, you are probably not going to gain a large following. And you may end up being ignored, mocked, criticized, rebuked, mistreated, and cast aside as unwanted because you don’t blend in with the culture and with the world, and you don’t buy into the diluted gospel which is permeating the American church. And you may be told to “go someplace else where you will be a better fit,” because you don’t fit with them.
But, as followers of Jesus Christ we are to be sharing the gospel message in the manner in which Jesus and his New Testament apostles taught it. For they taught that faith, which comes from God, results in us dying with Christ to sin, not just once, but daily, and us walking in obedience to our Lord and to his New Covenant commands, in practice. And they taught that if we profess faith in Jesus, but we keep living in sin and not in obedience to our Lord, that we don’t have salvation from sin nor eternal life with God.
For Jesus Christ went to that cross for us to put our sins to death with him so that we will now die with him to sin and walk in obedience to his commands in holy living, in daily practice. And he rose from that grave in victory over sin, Satan, death, and hell, so that we can also live in victory over sin and Satan and slavery to sin and the control of Satan over our lives. He didn’t die that horrible death just to forgive us our sins so we can go to heaven when we die. He died to take us from death to life in him.
So, if you are teaching what Jesus taught, and what his New Testament apostles taught as the gospel message (in context), don’t be surprised if you end up suffering for the sake of the gospel because what you are sharing does not bode well with the more casual Christian audience who are more accustomed to an altered and diluted gospel which tickles itching ears and does not offend the ungodly. And don’t be surprised even if others who profess faith in Jesus are the main ones who oppose you and reject you.
For think of who Jesus’ greatest persecutors and opponents were. They were the religious and the influential and the rulers in the temple and in the synagogues who were supposedly of the same faith as Jesus, of the same family of God. But they didn’t like his messages. They didn’t like him calling them out in their sins and in their hypocrisy. And they didn’t like him healing people on the Sabbath. And they didn’t like what he stood for, and so they aimed to “take him out,” basically, and they did accomplish their goal.
But God had the last word on that. He raised Jesus from the dead, and after Jesus went back to heaven, he sent his Holy Spirit to indwell his followers (his disciples – all who followed Jesus). And they continued the ministry that Jesus had begun, and the gospel message spread far and wide despite Jesus’ enemies who were out to destroy him. And I have personally experienced something like that in my life, where others wanted to silence me, but the Lord provided a way for me, and the gospel is going out to the world.
So, the point of this is to not let other humans discourage and dishearten you or dictate for you what you can and cannot do or say, unless what you are wanting to do is against God and against his word. If truly you are obeying the Lord, and what you are speaking is the truth of God’s Word, then don’t let others’ opinions or treatment of you keep you from obeying the will of the Lord. Yes, they may laugh at you and scorn you and ignore you, but just keep doing what God has called you to do – all for his glory.
[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 10:16-25,34-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 9:23-26; Luke 12:49-53; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13; Romans 6:1-23]
Here is Your God!
An Original Work / July 18, 2012
Based off Isaiah 40:9-31 NIV
You who bring good tidings to Zion,
Lift up your voice; raise with a shout,
And do not be afraid of the people.
Say, “Here is your God!”
See how the Lord God comes now with power.
His arm rules for Him; His reward with Him.
He tends His flock just like a shepherd,
His lambs in His arms.
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from beginning?
Our Lord sits enthroned above all things.
None to Him compare.
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens.
Who made all of these? Who calls them by name?
Because of His great power and strength,
All accounted for.
Why do you say, “My way is hidden
From the Lord, and my cause forgotten”?
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord, He is your God.
He will not weary. He gives us power.
Those who trust in Him will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings just like eagles;
Walk and do faint not.
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Remain Steadfast in Your Trials
An Original Work / January 26, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
www.catholicnewsagency.com
