Are you suffering from a wrong done you?

We in American often think only Christians living in a foreign country suffer because they are Christians, but God's Word says all Christians who are trying to live godly lives suffer.

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

Are you living Godly in Christ Jesus? Meaning, are you a Christian and doing what God's Word tells you to do? Then don't be surprised when you suffer because Satan hates you and he will raise up men and women who will persecute you... count on it! Yes, even here in America.... And Satan uses our families, our friends and other Christians against us. I have seen many Christians who hurt other Christians shamefully and woefully! I have seen children hurt their parents shamefully and woefully! I have seen Christian families torn apart because none of them seem to understand how Satan attacks us. I have seen friendships torn apart because Satan knows how to do it... he uses one against the other. Sometimes, the way a lot of Christians act causes me wonder if they really believe there is an evil force (Satan) who is at war with us.

I've seen churches split apart because Christians refuse to trust God. When there's a difference of opinion in the church they won't allow God's Word to guide them. They think any means is okay for the end result of how they want things to go. If you've been in a church for very long you've probably seen it too.

If you've had to suffer from another Christian's immature, or deliberate, wrong choice then it only proves one thing... Satan knows how to cause trouble between Christians and he's good at it! But we who try our best to live godly lives and follow the instructions set out for us in God's Word can take heart because we know God's Word says we shall be comforted and vindicated ( a word of warning is necessary here because if we try to retaliate - if we take our own vengeance then God will not vindicate us because God's Word says, Rom 12:19 "Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.") I'm ashamed to admit it but I've been a part of causing others to suffer wrong because of my bad choices and because of my own immaturity to do what was right. Therefore, when I suffer wrong from others my responsibility is to forgive and give it all to God. We must learn to trust God that He will take the hurtful situation and turn it around for our good and His glory.


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Albert Barnes (Albert Barnes was born in Rome, New York, in 1798) http://www.swordsearcher.com/christian-authors/albert-barnes.html says in his commentary on this verse:

2 Timothy 3:12 - "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." "... It is undoubtedly true at all times, and will ever be, that they who are devoted Christians ...who carry out his principles, will experience some form of persecution. The "essence" of persecution consists in "subjecting a person to injury or disadvantage on account of his opinions." It is something more than meeting his opinions by argument, which is always right and proper; it is inflicting some injury on him; depriving him of some privilege, or right; subjecting him to some disadvantage, or placing him in less favorable circumstances, on account of his sentiments.This may be either an injury done to his feelings, his family, his reputation, his property, his liberty, his influence; it may be by depriving him of an office which he held, or preventing him from obtaining one to which he is eligible; it may be by subjecting him to fine or imprisonment, to banishment, torture, or death. If, in any manner, or in any way, he is subjected to disadvantage on account of his religious opinions, and deprived of any immunities and rights to which he would be otherwise entitled, this is persecution. On account of his opinions, he may be held up to ridicule, or treated with neglect, or excluded from society to which his attainments and manners would otherwise introduce him, or shunned by those who might otherwise value his friendship. These things may be expected in the best times, and under the most favorable circumstances; and it is known that a large part of the history of the world, in its relation to the church, is nothing more than a history of persecution."
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If you've never been persecuted in any way, I think you should wonder whether it is not an evidence that you are not a Christian. We must consider this too... that it is easy for a professed Christian to avoid persecution, if he yields every point in which Christianity is opposed to the world - Shameful!

God often deems it necessary that his children should suffer. There are effects to be accomplished by affliction which can be accomplished in no other way; and some of the happiest results on the soul of a Christian, some of the brightest traits of character, are from the effect of trials. So, if you are suffering from a wrong done to you, or if someone in your family has turned against you... turn it over to God so He can accomplish what He needs to accomplish in your life (to conform you to the image of Christ Jesus). When you do that, God is glorified and you will be vindicated.

Listen, this life we live as a Christian is all about glorifying God and becoming like Christ so we can be fit to fulfill the role (position) God has for us in eternity. Stop resisting God's ordained suffering He allows you to go through! Start today trusting God (that's believing God knows what He's doing in your life) and you will find the "peace that passes understanding" and freedom to be all that God wants you to be.

One of God's greatest commandments requires us to: "Matthew 5:44 "...but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you."
Love your enemies - this means for us to wish our enemy well; to pity his madness and wrong choices because he will answer to God for them. We are to aid him in his time of trial; to seek to do him good; and to speak kindly of him and to him. This is a special law of Christianity, and the highest test of loving Christ and probably the most difficult of all of God's commands to do.
Another of God's great commandments requires us to: Matthew 19:19 "Honor thy father and mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." These two commandments we should seek to do with all our heart.

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Albert Barnes, in his commentary says this:

Honor thy father and mother -
1. Obey them, keep their commands, Col 3:20; Eph 6:1-3.2. Respect them, show them reverence.3. Treat their opinions with respect - do not despise them or ridicule them.4. Treat their habits with respect. Those habits may be different from ours; they may be antiquated, and to us strange, odd, or whimsical; but they are the habits of a parent, and they are not to be ridiculed.5. Provide for them when sick, weary, old, and infirm. Bear with their weakness, comply with their wishes, speak to them kindly, and deny yourselves of rest, and sleep, and ease, to promote their welfare.


Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself - This Christ declared to be the second great commandment of the law, Mat_22:39.
A neighbor means:1. any person who lives near to us.2. any person with whom we have dealings.3. a friend or relative, Mat_5:43.4. any person - friend, relative, countryman, or foe, Mar_12:31.5. any person who does us good or confers a favor on us, Luk_10:27-37,
This commandment means, evidently:1. that we should not injure our neighbor in his person, property, or character.2. that we should not be selfish, but should seek to do him good.3. that in a case of debt, difference, or debate, we should do what is right, regarding his interest as much as our own.4. that we should treat his character, property, etc., as we do our own, according to what is right.5. that, in order to benefit him, we should practice self-denial, or do as we would wish him to do to us, Mat_7:12.

It does not mean:1. that the love of ourselves, according to what we are, or according to truth, is improper. The happiness of myself is of as much importance as that of any other man, and it is as proper that it should be sought.2. It does not mean that I am to neglect my own business to take care of my neighbors. My happiness, salvation, health, and family are committed especially to myself; and, provided I do not interfere with my neighbors rights or violate my obligations to him, it is my duty to seek the welfare of my own family as my first duty.
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When you do the things stated above then your Christian walk will reflect the peace of mind you really need for accomplishing what God has planned for you in this life.

And now, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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We must always be diligent to present ourselves approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the Word of Truth - 2 Timothy 2:15.

This is my goal as a student of Christ Jesus and I'm sure you endeavor to do the same.

I pray for God to grow us up in His Word to become the person He wants us to be for eternity.

If you're carrying a heavy burden today; full of sorrow, grief and tears, please know this email has been sent with a prayer for God's comfort to you. Remember, Jesus is the One we can trust for all our heartaches. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter and He will give us comfort. Just go to Him in prayer read His Word and cry on the shoulder of Jesus. He loves us so!

I hope you will study with, and pray for a Bible believing group of Christians this Sunday. God says for us to: "Not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some, but exhorting one another." Hebrews 10: 25

In His tender care always,
Dot


Acknowledgements

* Most of my study was done using the E-Sword program from this site: http://www.e-sword.net/
I downloaded all their commentaries and bought other books for this program. The maps and teachers aids are so valuable and I can now do a study in half the time I took before. All the quotes from commentaries by great Theologians came from the E-Sword program.

* Some of my study was done using my Life Application Study Bible (KJV) by Tyndale House Publishers.

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