GOD'S EVERLASTING LOVE From the standpoint of appearance, it seems as though the righteous have been raised up only to be slaughtered, maligned, and subjected to the evil intentions of the godless. No sooner do they embrace Christ that trouble rears its head, and opposition shows its fangs. As the Gospel spread, and a notable miracle was done that could not even be denied by the enemies of Christ, the Apostles were commanded by their opponents "not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus" (Acts 4:18). A short while later, as multitudes were being brought to Christ, the enemies "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 5:50). No sooner had the numbers of the early church swelled than "there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles" (Acts 8:1). Were they not being considered sheep for the slaughter? – 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)
It was as though the people were "accounted as sheep for the slaughter." How else can we account for the heartless and undeserved death of the holy prophets and the opposition of the Apostles. As it is written, "Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost" (1 Thess 2:15-16). There were also those who were "stoned, they were sawn asunder [and] slain with the sword" (Heb 11:37). Were they not considered as sheep to be slaughtered?
When Jeremiah was fiercely and mockingly opposed by his enemies he wrote, "But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered" (Jer 11:19). Now, I ask you, was not the prophet thought to be a mere sheep, made to be slaughtered?
Here is the point of this passage. It is NOT God who considers His people sheep to be slaughtered. This is not His estimation of those who have embraced His Son. Further, the opposition to which they have been exposed does not suggest a waning of Christ's love, and a consequent corresponding increase of the power of their enemies.
It is true, we have been appointed to sufferings. As it is written, "no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that WE ARE APPOINTED THEREUNTO. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that WE SHOULD SUFFER TRIBULATION; even as it came to pass, and ye know" (1 Thess 3:3-4). But afflictions does not equal "slaughter." Tribulations, regardless of their severity, is not the same as being made for slaughter or destruction. That may be the objective of our foes, but it is not the Lord's objective.
One of the purposes of this passage is to encourage the hearts of the saints not to balk at suffering, or faint when they are exposed to the harsh treatment of the ungodly. Too, we must not overemphasize our sufferings, failing to accent the love of God. Our faith will be strengthened and confirmed in the crucible of suffering.
Often suffering comes in the harshest and most severe forms. The Spirit informs us that this is according to Divine appointment. Of the Apostles Paul says, "For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men" (1 Cor 4:9). In these afflictions, however, we are actually being suited for glory – experiencing the "fellowship of His sufferings" (Phil 3:10). They are preparing us to reign with Jesus (2 Tim 2:12). These sufferings are teaching us not to trust in ourselves (2 Cor 1:9). Through them, we are being conformed to the image of Christ, and separated from a condemned world.
The point of our text is that nothing appointed by God is capable of separating us from His love or that of Jesus. This includes the most grievous of circumstances, all of which are designed to wean us away from this present evil world, while promoting faith in God. How blessed to see this truth! This is needful and profitable instruction.
PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ I thank You for moving holy men through Your Spirit to instruct us concerning the sufferings and hardships of life.