GOD'S EVERLASTING LOVE To be "killed all the day long" is to be undeservedly subjected to the brutality and the inhumanity of the ungodly. It is to live under the threat of the worst dangers possible for men in the body. It is for Abel to be subjected to the hatred of his own brother while in the field of labor (1 John 3:12). It is for David to live under the aggressive and malicious quest of king Saul (1 Sam 23:14). It is for Elijah to be subjected to the evil intents of Jezebel (1 Kgs 19:2). It is for Paul to receive "stripes above measure," be "in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft." It is for him to receive "forty stripes save one" five times from the Jews, be thrice "beaten with rods," and "stoned" (2 Cor 11:24-26). – 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)
Being "killed all the day long" is standing "in jeopardy every hour" (1 Cor 15:30). It is being "troubled on every side, " "perplexed," "persecuted," and "cast down" (2 Cor 4:7). It is to experience "trouble on every side," with "fightings" within, and "fears" without (2 Cor 7:5).
When the saints are "killed all the day long," they are "pressed out of measure, above strength," insomuch they may despair "even of life" (2 Cor 4:8). It is to have "the sentence of death within," and made acutely aware of the transitory nature of life in this world (2 Cor 4:8).
By saying "we," both David and Paul refer to the host of the godly. Every day, to this day, some of them are escorted by holy angels from this world to the unseen world. Somewhere today, our brethren are being "killed" and persecuted by the ungodly. There are a host brethren who "love not their lives unto the death," and are abused by the world because of it (Rev 12:11).
There are numerous prayers in the Word of God that are expressed by those who are being "killed all the day long." They are fervent and heart-rending. They come from tender hearts that are determined to lay hold on eternal life at all cost, and to submit to the devil at no cost.
"Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt" (Psa 70:1-2).
"O God: hold not Thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, Thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate Thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against Thy people, and consulted against Thy hidden ones" (Psa 83:1-3).
"Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah" (Psa 140:1-3).
"Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for Thou shalt deal bountifully with me" (Psa 142:6-7).
"And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word, by stretching forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy child Jesus" (Acts 4:29-30).
Being subjected to such maltreatment is the result of faith – of receiving the atonement (Rom 5:11), and walking in the Spirit (Gal 5:16,25). And what is the reason for it all? Why are the people of God subjected to such abuse? The answer is shouted back to us by the Holy Spirit: "But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead" (2 Cor 1:9). That is the reason for our afflictions – to remove any tendency to imagine that we are sufficient of ourselves!
The question before us is if this experience is capable of dividing us from the love of Christ.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I confess it is not pleasant or enjoyable to face the opposition of this world – to have my name maligned, and even to face dangers for Your sake. However, I also confess that I choose to endure the rejection, and even opposition, of this world rather than bring displeasure to You. I thank You in Jesus' name for supporting me in my afflictions.