Encouragement for Persecution

[Swan7]

Please read John 1:9-11

This is about the third time now that I have come across this. Talking with a member, reading it on someone’s blog and finally in a devotional I just bought not long ago. Not to mention that I had read this same chapter 3 different times. I can’t help but feel this tug in sharing this, and I hope it gives encouragement to those who may already know this and is going through it or those who don’t yet know but are followers of Christ.

In summary, Jesus indeed came into the world - the world He created through His word - for His people. However His own people (Israel) did not receive Him. How is this not a reflection of some of the churches we go to fellowship and worship today?
Doesn’t the Bible say that we are hated just as Jesus was? John 15:18-25

This speaks volumes to me because I left a church I grew up in for many reasons I did not know then. God has been using my past experiences to speak to me and learn His ways. I now have a better understanding of why I don’t like division between denominations, and yet, I understand better of why they are there. It’s a double-edged sword like the Bible in a way is.

***
Allow me to deviate a bit here: There are 66 books in the Bible, 6 being the number of man and the other 6 seems to represent (to me anyway) a reflection - what ever reflection that mirror looks back at you with. That is what I mean by a double-edged sword. If I lack some understanding here, please allow me to contemplate.
***

Getting back on track, what I’m saying is the persecution comes from within and not from those outside of the church. Think about Jesus, His persecution came from His own people! Those outside from Him He shown love and compassion to. There were indeed some Pharisees that turned and followed Christ, but Jesus warned His followers this: John 16:2

The encouragement here is that if this is happening know full well that you are under God’s wing and He will help you through it. Psalm 91 Have no fear, but take refuge in the love of God.

 

[NDL]

Yours is an excellent point. The thing that I find extremely vexing, are those genuinely saved people who persecute their brethren.

Example: James 1:19: "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry..."

A sure mark of immaturity is to behave angrily when corrected. And what happens to those who get angry? They cut people off; they exclude the "offender" from their company.

The shame of it is when threads like this are created, concern or expression is often mistaken for bitterness (Hebrews 12:15) - thus do people stay away from topics like this. This is a HUGE mistake, because the problems often discussed in threads like this are real, and people are looking for, and need, SOLUTIONS .