GOD'S EVERLASTING LOVE "Persecution" occurs when the enemy pursues and chases us with aggression, inflicting pain and sorrow upon us. In its most sever form, persecution can result in death, as when Cain killed Abel: "And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him" (Gen 4:6). The prophets were slain by Jezebel (1 Kgs 18:4), Zechariah was stoned (2 Chron 24:21), and Herod killed James (Acts 12:22). – Tomorrow:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39, NKJV)
"Persecution" can take the form of chiding, as when Ishmael mocked Isaac: "And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking" (Gen 21:9), and "But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now" (Gal 4:19). Similarly, Sanballot, Tobiah, and Geshem chided Nehemiah and his builders who were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. Of them Nehemiah wrote, "they laughed us to scorn, and despised us" (Neh 2:19). It is said of the men of Sodom, who spoke against righteous Lot, "This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge" (Gen 19:9).
"Persecution" can take the form of rejecting the word of the Lord that is delivered by a believer – like the people spoke against Jeremiah: "Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words" (Jer 18:18).
"Persecution" can also be the flogging of Paul: "Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one Thrice was I beaten with rods" (2 Cor 11:24-25). Paul and Silas endured the same kind of treatment: "And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely" (Acts 16:22-23). Earlier in the history of the church, they did the same to the Apostles: "and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go" (Acts 5:40).
"Persecution can be like the imprisonment of Peter: "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him" (Acts 12:5). Or, it can take the form of imprisonment and beheading, like John the Baptist: "And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison" (Mark 6:27).
"Persecution can even be like the stoning of Stephen: "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:58).
Persecution is often the reaction of the ungodly in response to the aggressive deeds of the godly. When Gideon threw down the altar of Baal, the men of the city responded by saying, "Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it" (Judges 6:30).
In persecution, the enemy seems invincible, gaining the advantage over the saints – at least, that is how it appears. He makes them flee like David and Paul (1 Sam 19:10; Acts 14:6), hide like Israel (1 Sam 13:6), and suffer like John the Baptist (Mark 6:25-27). It may move a mighty young warrior like David to flee for fear of king Saul (1 Sam 21:10). Persecution may force the disciples to let Paul over a wall in a basket to facilitate an escape from a city (Acts 9:25; 2 Cor 11:33). It was said of several saints of the Old Covenant era, "And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth" (Heb 11:36-38).
There is no question about whether or not the saints will suffer persecution, for "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus SHALL suffer persecution" (2 Tim 3:12). Those who glibly speak of consistent triumph over all of their foes have not told the truth. David triumphed gloriously over Goliath (1 Sam 19:5), yet fled from Saul a short while later (1 Sam 19:10,18). Paul struck Elymas the sorcerer blind (Acts 13:11), yet was stoned and left for dead at Lystra (Acts 14:19). Isaac could not avoid the mocking of Ishmael (Gen 21:9). Joseph endured persecution from his brothers, who viewed his life as utterly worthless (Gen 37:20-28). Persecutors imprisoned Jeremiah (Jer 38:6), the Apostles (Acts 5:18), Peter (Acts 12:4), and Paul and Silas (Acts 16:23-24). David spoke of being reproached by those who were close to him (Psa 55:12). Peter spoke of being "reproached for the name of Christ" (1 Pet 4:14).
So, the possibility of persecution is not open to discussion. It is ever true, "The wicked plotteth against the just" (Psa 37:12). Those who choose to live godly in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution. The question before us now is if "persecution" can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus. Is it possible for the opposition of men to drive a wedge between trusting souls and the Savior who gave Himself for them.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I am painfully aware I am not at home in this world. I sense that the closer I come to You, the more the world opposes me. But I am still determined to draw close to you with a pure heart. In Jesus' name, I ask for strength to consider Your love of greater value than the accolades of mere men, and worth enduring all manner of opposition from them, as well.