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Oct 9 Devotion: Living Godly

Writer's picture: Immanuel Baptist ChurchImmanuel Baptist Church

2 Timothy 3:12 – “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”


The apostle Paul, just prior to this verse, has reminded Timothy of his testimony. He knows that Timothy has been privy to not only his public doctrine and preaching, but also to the public and private persecutions that were delivered upon him by the ungodly. Then, the Apostle Paul was inspired to write this often quoted verse that makes plain that all those who live godly in Christ will suffer persecution.


Throughout the history of those that have contended for the faith, those that have taken hold of and lived the doctrines of the Bible have been persecuted by the world. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs plainly details the sufferings of saints in the past. Presently, we hear (specifically at our church through missionaries) of the persecution of believers by state governments in Asia and by false religious leaders in Central America. Even in 2019, saints are martyred for the name of Christ.


However, one place where we see, and hear, little persecution of believers in in the United States. We boast that we possess the perfect preserved text of God’s Words, we claim to be the recipients of powerful preaching, yet there is little persecution. Some will say that we suffer no persecution because of our citizenship in the USA. While I thank God for the blessing of being born in the US, to say that we do not receive persecution because God has blessed us with this nation is to call this verse a lie. did not God richly bless this church at Jerusalem in the days after Pentecost? Yet that church was still persecuted beyond our imagination, having all but 1 of the apostles die the death of a martyr (along with many believers).


So our nationality is not the reason for the lack of persecution in this country. (We can look back to recent American History and see that persecution still happened on US soil.) Therefore, the cause for lack of persecution is a lack of godliness in the believers of this country. The scriptures tell us that “all that will I’ve godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Why don’t we see persecution? Because few choose to live godly in our day.


With all the liberal fanaticism that has made headlines through the past 5 years alone, those that chose to live godly would have been the target of smear campaigns and ridicule, if not worse. Persecution is still able to be shown, but the people of God do not will to live godly in our age. Why would Satan try to persecute those that readily keep themselves from living as God would have them to live? What effort is needed to dissuade godliness when the children of God desire to be worldly, already?


Living godly and persecution go hand in hand, they are inseparable. Have you ever really been the recipient of persecution? Humble yourself before God and ask Him to reveal if you are living godly. If not, you must choose to live as such, because it is required among servants to be obedient. The persecution will not be too much for your to bear in Christ, nor will it overcome the strength of our omnipotent Lord.


Salt the earth, shine as lights, and bring glory to our father in Heaven.


Your fellowservant in Christ,

Bro. Jordan Foster

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