Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

persecution

Isn’t That Fascinating?

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One of my most influential mentors had a unique way of looking at the inevitable challenges and obstacles life brings our way. While my reaction might be one of discouragement or despair, he would look at the situation and say, “Isn’t that fascinating?” He didn’t fret or get upset, but would sit marveling in fascination. While a little cliché to say, he always saw opportunity within the dilemma. I admit to never mastering this mindset, which in some ways resembles the Apostle Paul’s admonition to rejoice in all things (Philippians 4:4).

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Just as joy can be difficult to find amid tragedy, fascination is often the furthest thing from my mind when looking at the chaos of our world. But these times are fascinating in both their level of depravity and departure from the perfect life God intends for us to live. We all will do well to shift our perspective as we look toward the future.

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Outsiders

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If you follow Jesus with any consistency in this life, you’re going to find yourself as a cultural outsider. There’s no way around it. Our values are different. Our morals are different. Even our goals in life are different. We are not of this world, and we do not live like we are of this world (John 17:14-16). The very act of following Jesus Christ puts you on the outside, looking in on the rest of the world. You’ll be weird.

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The people of this world will hate, despise, and maybe even kill you. For certain, they will never understand you. Jesus lived on the outside too and he promised we would face trouble (John 16:33). He told us in advance that the world would hate us because it hated him (John 15:18-19). Authentic followers of Jesus will never be on the inside of the coolest and most popular circles. They will always be outsiders.

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Persecuted for the Sake of Jesus

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Vineet is a follower of Christ in India. When he was younger, Hindu militants forced to him leave his parents and home because of his faith. Since then, he has twice more been kicked out of towns and had his property seized. All because of his faith in Christ (Matthew 5:10-12). This isn’t unusual in India, a nation that is growing ever more hostile to Christianity. What struck me about Vineet was his courage and faithfulness.

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Older now, he leads a Bible study deep in the jungle away from the eyes of forces who wish to silence him. After years of suffering and injustice, Vineet simply says, “I have dedicated my life to serve and be persecuted for the sake of Jesus. I will do this until my last breath. Nothing can separate me from the love of God” (2 Timothy 3:12; Romans 8:38-39). This man’s life is inspiring and should encourage each of us to examine our commitment to Christ.

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What Are We Doing?

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As I survey the state of Christianity, particularly in the Western context, I can’t help but ask, “What are we doing?” I read accounts of believers like Pastor Abhaya in Bhutan who may have to move to another country because the government won’t recognize his marriage to his wife because he is a Christian. This means his children are denied citizenship, which will prevent them from attending school or ever having a meaningful job.

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Because Abhaya follows Jesus, the authorities deny him not only his rights but also the rights of his entire family. Then I peruse social media in America and see the ridiculous squabbles Christians are having over the most trivial of things and again must ask, “What are we doing?” As we feign offense and lash out at those who disagree with minor doctrinal differences, we don’t have a clue what it means to take up our cross and follow Jesus.

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Are You Ready?

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In a world seemingly caught in a death spiral, every day that you fail to prepare for what’s coming puts you that much closer to being too late to prepare. It amazes me how many nations are at war, with many more on the verge of war, while so many continue to live their lives as if nothing is happening. Jesus tells us in the days before the flood, people were carrying on as if they were exempt from the judgment God was bringing on them. (Luke 17:26-27).

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The same was true for Sodom and Gomorrah (Luke 17:28-30). Are you ready to die? Is your eternity secure in Jesus Christ or have you been putting off surrendering to His Lordship? I have met too many people who assume they will have time to live for God later, unwilling to sacrifice the pleasure of living in the now. Unless you choose to ignore what’s happening in the world, you must realize that the time to seek Jesus is running out.

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