Push Toward Christ

January 14, 2021

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

~II Corinthians 4:17~

The Lord has been preparing His church for persecution since the beginning of time. There comes a day when we truely need to stand for Christ, all the way through. Just as He endured and stood for us we are called to live by faith; "Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

(Hebrews 10:38)

Notice how it follows by explaining backsliding and how it is displeasing to God. We must walk in faith to please the Lord. Since the Lord is unseen we are following Him in faith. That is how we acheive our promise; "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God."

(Romans 4:20)

There may come a time when others we know and love may turn against us, Jesus warns us about this; "Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

(Luke 12:53)

Jesus speaks of division He came to bring, clear as day. When the end times approach more division will be brought to light. People will learn more about who they are or aren't in Christ and tensions will rise, demons will latch and chaos will break out. We can take comfort in the midst of loss, no matter how close you may have thought someone was to you. Jesus never leaves us; "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:18)

Jesus warns us about impending persecution when He speaks about the parable of the sower. There are different types of soil each seed lands upon. There are ones who will fall and ones who will continue to grow and stand strong beside the Lord; "yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles." (Matthew 13:21)

Notice the word "when" in this verse. When tribulation or persecution arises; we understand that there will come a time that we are tested for our faith. The comfort Paul gives us in this verse today explains to us that each light affliction is but for a moment. Eventually we will be delivered from each trial. The Lord uses it to build our character; "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope."

(Romans 5:3‭-‬4)

Paul knew that as he pushed ahead through his savage persecution that the glory on the other side would be far worth anything the world made him go through. Jesus understood this too as He took up the cross. Nobody wants to suffer, however, we are called to be transformed to the image of Jesus, not the image of this world. We are called to take up our crosses and follow Him. We are called to trust in the Lord and lean not on our own understanding. When we allow fear to rattle us or the world to dictate how we live we are no longer walking whole heartedly for Jesus. Im not here to judge, I am just being real. We will suffer for Jesus. The question is are we willing to? Are we willing to endure through truely hard times for Him just as He did for us? Or do we just live out our lives praising God in the blessings and leaving Him in the trials? He is with us always, holding our hand. Our job is to take ahold of Him and trust that He will guide us through and to the other side of glory. No matter what God has predestined for us to endure we must accept it, submit to it and fulfill the entire will. We will never have the answers in advance. Paul didn't know in advance that he would be lost at sea, biten by a snake or stoned to near death. All of our brothers and sisters across country did not know in advance that their spouses would be murdered in front of them, imprisioned, stripped apart from eachother or tortured day in and day out for their faith in Christ. Yet they endure no matter what because they are transformed to be like Christ. Let us dive deeper into the word of God, pray more each day on our knees and ask the Holy Spirit to lead us in the way of righteousness. We either submit to God or we waver in our faith. We cannot afford this my friends. The lost people of this world need us to be a beam of light in this broken system. When we start to compromise here and there we are no longer representing the kingdom, we are just another one representing the world's standards. Paul understood this as he lost majority of his fellow apostles who followed him and yet was eventually left with just one who stuck beside him right before his own death. Paul loved his brothers yet he loved Jesus first. We can love our family in Christ but when we make it our number one priority to please them over Christ, we have lost our faith. Following Him who we can't see verse following people we can. We must be of the same mind in order to stick together in tough times; "Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind."

(Philippians 3:16)

Paul knew it was most important to press toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. So when we are called to endure persecution, push toward that goal my friends. Do not be afraid, only believe!

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for the strength in all of my persecuted brothers and sisters that can only come from abiding in You. I know that there is no room in the kingdom for a lukewarm follower. I declare that I do not want to be one to back slide from my faith. Jesus help me to stand strong and endure to the very end, no matter what it is You are calling me to go through. I know living for You will not be easy, but it is worth every ounce of what so ever this world throws at me. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. I will not allow satan to determine my walk for a single moment. Help me to remain firm in divine faith, a gift from You. I give praise for the sacrifice You gave for my ability to know You; without Your endurance I would of never had this gift. I strive to be more like You, Jesus and less like me. May the glory be to You and may we bring more lost souls into the kingdom. In Your Name I pray, King Jesus Christ. Amen.