Walking With God Today 11/20/08

“So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you…” 2 Thessalonians 1:4-6 (KJV)

I include verse four in today’s study because it helps clarify verses five and six.  The persecutions the church is suffering is a revealed token of the righteous judgment of God.  These trials are working in the church and each individual who is suffering in trials making them worthy of the kingdom of God.  Let us not be weary of our suffering for Christ sake, but glory that He counts us worthy to suffer for His sake (Acts 5:41).

Many complain about trials and persecutions in their lives, but does an athlete complain about running until his/her legs ache, lifting weights until her/his arms hurt. If a mountain climber does not hurt he probably has not climbed a mountain for a while. We can think, ‘Well these people voluntarily do that’. Amen! Do we as the people of God not choose to suffer for our faith as well? We chose Jesus, after He made it possible for us to do so. We are called to suffer with Him. Suffering with Him we are raised with Him. If we are to be strong in faith let’s face the weights, the running, and the mountains for the glory of our God, Savior, Lord and Righteousness.

Those who fall away are many times the very ones who will cause the faithful trouble. There are some who seem to remain fiathful to the church, but never endure any persecution, because they live outside the church like everyone else. They are trouble to the church, in the church whether they actually lift a finger against her or not. It is a righteous act of God to cause them trouble. Sometimes even to the point of causing them to leave a church in order that He may cleanse her.

It is sad when church members begin persecuting other Christians, because of their faith.  Christians have enough trials and persecutions without persecuting one another.  It may be that some “church members” are not Christian, but pretenders, and still hate the Lord Jesus.  The persecution that was troubling the Thessalonian church was from outside, and if there will be persecution that is where it will come from in most cases. 

In the midst of persecutions, and trials of life; let’s commit ourselves to the faith of the Lord Jesus, be strong, and walk with Him daily.

Walk With God Today.

-Tim A. Blankenship