March-30-17

"A Life Devoted to Righteousness Will Be Persecuted"...

Today I see so much persecution in the church and even the mention of God's name. Prayer has been taken from our children in the schools. The Ten Commandments have been taken down throughout our country. In some countries Christians are being killed for their beliefs. The sad thing is that our Christian beliefs are being replaced by immoral degrading values. 
The Bible warns us of this. Jesus tells us that we will be persecuted for His name sake. A Godless society has no morals, no values. 
We as Christians must stand firm in our faith and not allow it to be replaced. When we take God out of the country we lose His protection on our lives; and also His hedge of protection on this, The United States of America. 
Renew yourself and stand tall and firm in your faith. Don't be blinded in the persecutions that will come up against you. Remain faithful and see the hand of God work in your life....

So you can see why a life devoted to righteousness or godliness will be persecuted or reviled or spoken against.

If you cherish chastity, your life will be an attack on people's love for free sex.
If you embrace temperance, your life will be a statement against the love of alcohol.
If you pursue self-control, your life will indict excess eating.
If you live simply and happily, you will show the folly of luxury.
If you walk humbly with your God, you will expose the evil of pride.
If you are punctual and thorough in your dealings, you will lay open the inferiority of laziness and negligence.
If you speak with compassion, you will throw callousness into sharp relief.
If you are earnest, you will make the flippant look flippant instead of clever.
And if you are spiritually minded, you will expose the worldly-mindedness of those around you.

Two Responses to a Righteous Life
When you desire to be godly in all your affairs and relationships—when you follow the righteousness of Jesus in his strength and for his glory—there are two possible responses people can have who stay around you. These are described in John 3:20–21.

For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. [That is one possible response: hating the light and not accepting it.] But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God. [That is the other possible response: doing the truth and coming to it and freely admitting that all good in us is accomplished by God.]