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Rejoice in Persecution

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

    “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5: 10 – 12)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

    From the time of the resurrection until today, true believers have always been verbally and physically persecuted for their faith.  Of the original 12 disciples, 11 were violently murdered, and the twelfth was imprisoned for life.  Throughout the centuries, the body of Christ has suffered affliction; millions have been martyred; many more have been discriminated against, despised, and socially ostracized.  Jesus said, “Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you.”  Because persecution is a sign of genuine obedience, many are able to take pleasure in adversity; in the midst of hardship the faithful are not without a sense of peace; for to endure pain for Christ is to experience great joy, and to suffer and die for him is to understand what it means to truly live.

  Throughout the fourth century, the Roman Empire was actively persecuting professing Christians.  In the year 320 A.D. a group of believing soldiers from Rome’s twelfth legion paid the ultimate price for their faith.  The Emperor Licinius decreed that every Roman soldier was obligated to offer sacrifices to the pagan Gods.  Forty Christian men refused to obey his command; in turn, they were immediately ordered to disrobe. After being marched onto a frozen lake they were informed that they could return to shore at any time, as long as they were willing to obey (the officers had even prepared hot baths for those who chose to relent.)  As they froze, the exposed soldiers huddled together and began to sing songs and to praise God; in their hour of suffering they expressed overwhelming joy.)  One by one, they perished.  Sadly, a single solitary man did relent; but astonishingly another soldier who had been observing the spectacle was so moved by what he had seen that he instantly gave his life to Jesus Christ; he removed his clothes and walked out on to the ice to join his dying brothers.

    Persecution is a part of genuine faith.  Those who oppose God, will oppose those who follow Him.  Obedience can produce much suffering.  When we suffer for righteousness, we can rejoice and be glad, knowing that we serve the Living God.  We must take up our cross; we must speak the truth; we must love without question, and give without stipulation.  We must walk by faith and avoid compromise.  In so doing, God will strengthen us in the hour of our greatest need; He will comfort us; He will give us victory; and we will inherit the riches of His Eternal Kingdom.

    “Lord Heavenly Father, as we undergo trials give us strength and fill us with Your Holy Spirit; that we may rejoice in suffering and persecution.  May we always praise Your Name; in good times and in bad.  May we never compromise; may we never be conformed to the image of this world.  May we live for righteousness and may we die for virtue.  Father, we love You, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.

The Least of These

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'” (Matthew 25: 31 – 40)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

When Jesus returns, He will establish His perfect Kingdom upon the Earth. Those who have been obedient will inherit everlasting life; whereas the disobedient will experience eternal judgement. In this scripture Christ establishes a remarkable truth. When we feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, show hospitality toward strangers, clothe the naked, and visit those who are sick and in prison, we are exhibiting a genuine love for God. Acts of kindness toward others are equivalent to the displays of affection we direct toward Jesus Christ Himself. In short, serving others and serving God are identical. The degree of love we exhibit toward others is an exact reflection of our love for God.

Concerning affection, a little boy once declared that he loved his mother “with all his strength.” He was asked to explain what he meant by “with all his strength.” He said: “Well, I’ll tell you. You see, we live on the fourth floor of this tenement; and there’s no elevator, and the coal is kept down in the basement. Mother is busy all the time, and she isn’t very strong; so I see to it that the coal hold is never empty. I lug the coal up four flights of stairs all by myself. And it’s a pretty big hold. It takes all my strength to get it up here. Now isn’t that loving my mother with all my strength?”

This little boy’s affection for his mother was remarkable. Similarly, we as believers possess a monumental adoration for our Eternal Father. When we love God with all our strength, we will love and serve others in a similar manner. Today there are endless opportunities to serve The Lord, by simply serving and providing for the needs of our fellows. We can serve our families, our friends, our coworkers, our acquaintances, and even complete strangers. In so doing, the presence of God will be revealed in us, and the light of Christ will shine forth for all to see.

“Lord Heavenly Father, You are an awesome and amazing God; worthy of all honor and glory. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we might love You with all our strength and remain obedient to Your will. May we serve You by serving our fellows; knowing that our love for them is equivalent to our love for You. We cherish You Lord, we praise You, and we thank You; and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name we pray. Amen.” God bless all of you!

Miracles Happen

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

‘As He went of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. (Mark 10: 46 – 52.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

As Jesus journeyed along a road, a blind man began calling out to him; a lowly beggar who possessed great faith. Jesus responded by healing him. In an instant his eyes were restored; once again permitting him to see the world. With his vision renewed, how did he respond? He didn’t use his eyes to run away, to return home, or to chase after some selfish pursuit. Instead we read that he followed Jesus down the road. Supernatural events and miraculous healings most often serve a singular purpose; to allow those who have been healed to follow Jesus Christ more precisely.

Today, the Mayo Clinic, which is located in Rochester Minnesota, is one of the largest and most respected medical facilities in the entire world. Interestingly enough, this massive hospital began as a private practice in 1864; founded by a family doctor named William Worall Mayo. His two sons, who were also physicians, would eventually take control of the clinic; prompting it to increase in size and prestige over the course of several decades. “The Mayo Brothers,” as they are commonly referred to today, were experts in healthcare and conscientious observers of the process of disease, sickness, and death. One of the brothers, named William Mayo Jr. was once quoted as saying, “I have seen patients that were dead by all standards. We knew they could not live. But I have seen a minister come to the bedside and do something for him that I could not do, although I have done everything in my professional power. But something touched some immortal spark in him and in defiance of medical knowledge and materialistic common sense, that patient lived!”

Miracles are not a thing of the past; instead, they are a blessing in our present day. These supernatural events are happening all around us every day; in and through the lives of those who are faithful. God alone possesses the power over sickness and death; there is no disease He can’t heal, and no sickness He cannot eradicate. As we journey through this life, may the Spirit of the Living God dwell within us. May we be used as vessels for healing and transformation. May we remain steadfast; that our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ might never waiver.

“Lord Heavenly Father, only you are righteous and just and true. We know you are still healing those who are broken, and we admire Your wonderful works without ceasing. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we may remain faithful; use us to accomplish Your will in this place, as we bring healing to the sick and hope to those who are hopeless. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen!” God bless all of you.