Matthew 10:29-33. Two sparrows. Compared to the worth of a human being, sparrows are of very little value, yet God is concerned in the fall of each one. Hairs of your head—God has each one counted, identified, and classified. God goes to great detail in showing His care for all humanity. Therefore—based upon the foregoing—fear ye not opposition, abuse, slander, persecution, or death. Why? Ye are of more value in God's sight, since a human life embodies an immortal soul for whom Christ died. God sees, cares, and will act. He will not prevent the suffering, but He will give grace to bear it. Whosoever ... shall confess me before men—relate to Christ, acknowledge Him—him will I confess also before my Father—confess and be confessed. He will relate to and acknowledge us. His acknowledgment gives entrance to all the joys and benefits that the Father has for His people. This includes Heaven for eternity. Is this worth suffering and dying for? Denying Him brings denial from Him and a closing of Heaven's door. We confess Him by holding to Him without doubting and own Him without cowardice or shame. To attempt to hide our relationship to Christ in order to escape pain or ridicule is to deny Him. See Mark 8:38. Love Christ FirstMatthew 10:34-37. A man's foes shall be they of his own household. Jesus knew that the life of His followers would be filled with trouble, suffering and persecution, and that they would sometimes meet their greatest opposition within the circle of home and friends. He meant that loyalty to Him always costs the believer dearly. He that loveth father or mother ... son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. No one in all the history of the human race has done so much to enrich the family relationship as Jesus, yet He said that relationship with Him comes before relationship with the dearest on earth. To us, the counsel is that we are to be prepared for opposition as we take our stand in behalf of Christ. Let us neither be amazed nor discouraged if men jeer and oppose us when we stand for Christ against their love for comfort, their spiritual indifference, or their evil ways. Often one's greatest peace is experienced when one has turned from those he loves most to serve Him who demands all. This is a peace which the world cannot give, neither can their threats take it away. No Strange Thing First Peter 4:12-15. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you. Because there is a divine purpose in the trials which we experience, we are commanded to count it all joy, be glad also with exceeding joy. The purpose of the trial of our faith is our eternal blessing, in that it is for our spiritual strength and good. Suffering, alone, brings no reward; it is suffering for Christ's sake which is rewarded and blessed. Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings. When we stand for Christ and are reproached for His sake, we have assurance that we do not stand alone but have with us the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God far outshines the glory of men and this world. This is the ground of our victory. First Peter 4:16. If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed. We must be ashamed if we are branded as a lawbreaker by the courts, but if we are condemned as believers, then we can rejoice that we are charged with standing against the world. If our crime is Christianity, then we can praise God. If God be for us, who can be against us? Saints are not in a popularity contest. They are in a spiritual race which each must finish in order to gain the victory. It is essential for men and women when they are experiencing severe persecution or suffering to prevent discouragement and gain the victory. In Matthew 10:22 Jesus promised persecution to the true Christian, but He also promised a rich reward. JUST A THOUGHT You can live in this world only once,
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