Persecution's Promise and Provision

Passage: 

     1 Thessalonians 2:14-16  14  For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:  15  Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:  16  Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

Main Point:  Persecution is a part of the cost of Discipleship.  Rest assured, you will face it, and they will be held accountable.  Keep following Christ anyway!

·         Promise  Believer, there may be the promise of persecution in your future - but on the heels of that will be the provision of Divine Justice for the persecutors.  Whether it is the Jews  who seek to silence your speech or Gentiles, this passage should offer us the confidence that the same God who dealt with the sins of His chosen people will also deal with the sins of the rest of the world.  He is not only a loving God, but He is a just God. 

     Likewise, let this serve as a warning to those who are still denying the gospel of Jesus Christ.  If God will bring His wrath upon His chosen race, you have no claim to the mercy and grace of God outside of Christ.  You must receive your clemency and blessings according to the promise and plan  that God, in His love, has provided for you.  There is no other way.  Will you turn from your sin to Jesus Christ for mercy and forgiveness?  Will you allow Him to lead you?  It is your only hope.

·         Lesson

     While this particular passage does not say "kind" things about the deeds of the Jews, it does speak the truth.  It also implies the  protected status the Jews have in the heart of God - for the prophets were theirs!  It is always a protection to have the Word of God delivered to you.  The problem with the Jews is NOT that they were worse than most people.  Most people have done EXACTLY like the Jews did - rejected the Word of God when it was delivered to them.  Have you heard the gospel of Jesus Christ?  Have you accepted it? 

     Persecution.  That most horrible of words.  It is the expectation, indeed, the hope of Believers.  They persecuted our Savior.  Are we greater than our master?  Shall we escape that treatment?  Look at the headlines.  If you share your faith  publicly, you can be sued, tried, or imprisoned - right here in America.  If you pray in Jesus' name at a government council, you can be censored and silenced.  If you hand out Bibles to school kids, you can be  banished from the grounds.  If you proclaim the Divine Decision on morality you can be prosecuted for "hate speech" and/or imprisoned alongside a criminal if he implicates your proclamation motivated him in any way.  If a politician promotes a bill addressing any moral issue, and you preach from the pulpit on that issue, you may be subject to government intrusion, penalties, or even arrest for "political" speech.  If you leave a Bible out, talk to a co-worker about Christ, or wear Christian jewelry or clothing, you may lose your job.  There are no earthly protections in America any more, no freedoms of speech.  You can count on persecution for your faith - but stay the course.  It will be worth it all! 

Holler for Jesus,

Greg Yount

Check out my blogs:

Just-a-Thot - Devotional thoughts - http://justa-thot.blogspot.com  

As I See It - Biblical perspectives on current events - http://asiseeit10.blogspot.com