Last night in youth, we talked about how there is nothing that can separate you from God’s love. The scripture is in Romans, and it lists several things that cannot separate you from God’s love. One of those were persecution. We asked them a question. If nothing can stop God’s love for you, then why don’t we share that love with others? Persecution can be rough, it’s not pleasant. No one likes to be persecuted by what they believe. We told them that if just 1 person becomes born again, then all the persecution you go through is worth it.
In Chapter 12 of Psalms, it talks about how evil the world is, how people lie to each other, and how the faithful have vanished. Does it seem like when you are doing what God wants, when you are standing up for what you believe, when you step out of your comfort zone and you start to getting persecuted, it seems like you are all alone? You can’t find another Christian. You look around and suddenly people who have been faithful in the past have just slipped away? Have you ever thought that maybe when you take that step out of your comfort zone, your supposed to feel like there’s no one else but you and God? Believe me, I know that it’s hard to step out in faith. But what happens when we do? We rely on God like never before. We have to! If we didn’t we wouldn’t have the strength to step out! If you want to grow, you have to step out.
In verse 5 is says: “I will protect them from those who malign them. And the words of the Lord are flawless, like sliver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.”
This should encourage us today! God is with us, and will protect us! I love how this verse describes God’s words, it says they are flawless. They are perfect, he cannot lie to us! If he says something, he means it. You can count on it!
I don’t know what kind of persecution that you may be going through. It can come in many forms. It may come from your friends, your family, maybe at work. It can come from anywhere. If you are a Christian, people are watching you. They know that you are different, they want to see what you will do in certain situations. They want to see what will happen when your beliefs are challenged. How will you hold up? Will you give in and do what you know is wrong, or will you stand firm? Remember that all the persecution you go through is worth it if just 1 person turns their life over to God. Don’t give up! Step out and grow!
Hugs,
Erin
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