THE QUESTION WE SHOULD ALWAYS ASK OURSELVES ON A SUNDAY MORNING: By David Maddox
This past week did you encounter hatred or disapproval of any nature because of who you are in Christ Jesus or because you stood on the Truth of His Word and others didn’t like that? If not – why not? Jesus told us that, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). Here then is the measure of whether we have become – or by our silence have surrendered to and thus affirmed we have become one with the world – which Scripture says means that we are “at enmity with God” (James 4:4).
We are told in Scripture that “if possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18). But some things are not possible. Jesus declared, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). He came to divide – to cause people to make a choice and people don’t like to have to make a choice. He explained that “everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed” (John 3:20) and we are to be that light in a dark world (Matthew 5:14). Again we have been sent out as Jesus was sent out (John 20:21), and in this world increasingly against anyone exercising faith outside of a building which they will never enter, we must expect opposition even as Jesus encountered opposition – and know that if we are not receiving it, then we are not being faithful to our call.
It was Paul who wrote this chilling truth – “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:12-13) and in the book of Revelation we read that Satan, “went off to make war on . . . those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 12:17). If you are not encountering some level of opposition then you should ask the Lord whether you truly “desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus” and are one of those “who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus”.
About David Maddox – After a legal career in both Texas and Arizona that spanned over 40 years as a civil litigator, God called David to leave his law practice and work full time as Discipleship Director for Time to Revive. That call is really the fruit of decades of prayer for revival and teaching God’s Word, writing discipleship materials and seeking to make disciples. David married Janet Whitehead in 1976 and they minister together from their Phoenix home. God has blessed them with four children and thus far seven grandchildren.