“Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.” (1 Peter 3:13-17 NASB1995)
If we are living righteously, in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in the power of God, not of our flesh, and if sin is no longer what we practice, for we are now living holy lives, pleasing to God, by the grace of God, in an era and culture which is so worldly, and so ridden with sinful rebellion, we are not going to be voted “most popular.” We are not going to have huge followings. And we are not going to be well liked and appreciated. We may have some supporters, but we are going to be opposed, too.
But we who are following Jesus Christ with our lives, in being and in doing what he has called us to be and to do (not in claiming absolute perfection), we are not to fear the intimidations of those who would mock us or rebuke us or call us crazy or accuse us falsely of teaching lies. And we are not to fear how others might view us or might treat us or speak to us as a result of what others are saying about us. For we may get accused falsely of being legalistic or self-righteous, but we must hold to the truth of God’s Word.
For lies and liars abound every where you look these days. Fakery and deception is all over the place. Pastors and preachers lie. Politicians lie. The news media lies. Even the alternative media tells lies. Famous and powerful people speak lies. Evangelists speak lies. Now not everyone speaks lies, but it appears that the majority of people, even the majority of those professing faith in Jesus Christ, make a habit of telling lies, and sometimes they lie in order to coverup their habitual sins which they commit in secret in the dark.
In all of this upheaval and fakery and deception and betrayal at the hands of those who profess all goodness, but who are not what they profess, we are not to fear any repercussions for speaking the truth. In an era where so many have now altered the gospel of Christ to pacify human flesh, and have reprogrammed what is being called “the church,” to make it more attractive and inviting to the people of the world, we must stand strong on the truth of God’s Word and not make compromises just so we will not face persecution.
But we must keep speaking the truth of God’s word, and we must keep refuting the lies of the enemy of our souls, no matter how hard it gets, and no matter how much flack we may get from it. But we must speak the truth in love, not with hate, and not harshly. But speaking the truth not harshly but kindly and in love does not mean backing down from the truth or diluting the truth to make it less offensive. For if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to God, we will not inherit eternal life with God. It’s the truth!
[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]
As the Deer
By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1
As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You
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Do Not Fear Intimidation
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