Daily Devotional for Sunday, April 21

Persecution Is Normal

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” 2 Timothy 3:12.

In 1964, country singer Sonny James sang “Bad Times a Comin.” The song mainly concerned the artist’s personal life, but the idea is universal. Sometimes life seems that way. Life is a mix of good and bad; even in the good times, it often seems bad is just around the corner. That trend is true for ordinary people; some live lives where increased difficulty and trouble are the norms.

Would you be shocked to know that the Christian life is one of the above described lives? If you live your life following the commands of Jesus and the Bible, trouble will come; it is not a question of if but when that will occur. Paul was trying to warn his young protégé, Timothy, of this. Reading 2 Timothy chapter 3 describes what is happening around us today. Paul told Timothy that anyone who lives a godly life will face persecution. People often hate the gospel message, and they also hate the messenger. Christians must be ready for this because God has told us it is coming.

How can you be ready for what is coming? Later in this chapter, we can see the answer. We are told some things God’s Word is suitable for in verses 16 and 17, and we can see what it does for us. To paraphrase, it makes us mature Christians ready to face the world. Do you want to be prepared? Get in God’s Word and let it transform you. Read it, study it and meditate on it. Then, let the Holy Spirit empower you to face the coming trials. God is great that way; He always warns us of what is to come, and He always offers a way to deal with it.

JUST A THOUGHT
If you enjoy complete peace with the world around you as a Christian, maybe it is because that world does not even realize you are different.

Wally Fry