Withstanding Persecution:

GuardianAngelStore · Newbie Joined: Jul 07, 2015 Posts: 40 Status: **Offline**

Withstanding Persecution:

Jesus warned His disciples, "Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matthew 10:16-20)

We only need to look at the news to see the many persecutions of Christian faith in motion. Politicians, anti-religious activists and terrorists are all arrayed to silence those who believe in Him and the commandments by which He asks us to live. To defend ourselves and our faith, it is important for us to know His Word and to deepen our relationship with Him. As we study the depths of our faith, we enable ourselves to give reasons for our hope (1 Peter 3:15). We also enable ourselves to describe to those who would challenge us, or who may seek understanding or our beliefs, as to the many blessings we receive through our trust in Him.

Through knowledge of our faith, we prepare ourselves for the challenges which will come before us, to include our ability to recognize and engage those who seek to lead us astray. We can expect the emissaries of the evil one will seek, first, to shake our faith by probing us with deceptive logic. As they discover where we may be weak in understanding, they will push to plant seeds of doubt through which we may be lured to the darkness. As we bring ourselves ever closer to His Word, we strengthen ourselves so we may not be deceived.

As Jesus told His disciples, we need not fear what we shall say, should we be handed over to the Godless, for as we invite the Holy Spirit within our hearts, He will guide us in the moment. Through knowledge of our faith, we will also be prepared to respond thoughtfully to others, with gentleness and reverence, keeping our conscience clear, so that, when we are maligned, those who defame our faith in Christ may themselves be put to shame (1 Peter 3:16). If we do not have understanding, though, we leave ourselves vulnerable to the wolves. Let us, then, wisely use our time so we may learn of His ways and what He asks of His faithful.

Blessed are those who study the depths of His Word, for they will discover the many blessings and reasons for their hope in Him.