Our human nature tends to be somewhat militant in trying to
get our way and push our agenda. Jesus
did not send his disciples out to impose his will on other people. Far too many today think of themselves as
God’s army. That was never God’s
plan. Matthew 10:16-18 warns, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the
midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you
up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall
be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them
and the Gentiles.”
While Christ has given us some defensive armor to protect us
from spiritual attacks, we have no offensive weapons to attack our enemies. Even an animal as strong as an elk or moose
can be brought down by a pack of wolves in the right conditions, and sheep are
really no challenge. It is critical for
the sheep to be aware of danger and stay away from the wolves, because even
that cute friendly wolf pup will turn on them when he is with the rest of the
pack. Similarly, even those we thought were on our
side may turn against us under pressure from the world. We need to be careful not to expose ourselves
to satanic attack. Given the chance they
will have us arrested and falsely accused of wrong doing because of our stance
for Christ. Be aware that when it
happens, it stands as a testimony against them for disobeying God, whether they
are Jews or Gentiles.
Christians are going to be falsely accused from time to time
and Matthew 10:19-20 commands, “But when
they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall
be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of
your Father which speaketh in you.” Instead
of spending a lot of time and money planning your legal defense, allow the Holy
Spirit to speak through you. One can
only wonder how much different the scopes monkey trial would have turned out if
they had depended on God rather than Clarence Darrow to present their
case. Similarly in Roe v Wade or
numerous other court decisions.
Public opinion controls most people, with the result that
even our best friends and closest relatives may turn on us. Matthew 10:21-22 warns, “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father
the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them
to be put to death. And ye shall be
hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be
saved.” Satan is the God of this
world, and controls most public opinion.
He hates those who serve God, and will cause others to hate and harass you. II Timothy 3:12 warns, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution.”
Anyone who serves God is going to suffer trials and
persecution. I Peter 4:12 warns, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the
fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto
you.” We should not let ourselves
get upset by the persecution, as Matthew 10:23-26 tells us. “But
when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say
unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man
be come.
The disciple is not
above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as
his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the
house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing
covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.”
Instead of trying to force them to acknowledge your rights,
simply move to another place where you are not persecuted. We will never be able to reach everyone, and
it is a waste of time trying to force people to accept what they don’t want. It is better to move on to a place where
people are more receptive. We need to
remember that Jesus was not received by everyone in his day either, and we are
not better than he was. He was accused
of doing evil things, and can expect to be treated like he was. We need to remember God is the judge, and
knows exactly what is going on. At the
proper time, the truth will come out, and in the meantime, we can trust God as
Romans 8:36-reminds us. “As it is written, For thy sake we are
killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Nothing they can say or do will separate
us from God’s love.
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