2005

 

Dec 26 2005

Mt 10:17-22 Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of men, 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. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
What I hear after reading the Scriptural passage is to trust God first and to always trust God if the choice is a person or God. To allow the Holy Spirit to speak for myself when challenged about my faith by persons. To expect that people will be trying me because of my faith in Christ and to endure for the sake of salvation. It is a part of faith to endure in the name of Christ the trials and tribulations that come with a sincere and total belief in Jesus as Savior. It is a harsh living of the Word to be hated in the name of Christ, yet the early martyrs found it a an honor and salvation according to their words recorded in numerous martyrologies.

I do not believe that God wants us to suffer. I do not believe that God sends us suffering. I believe that most suffering comes from within or our fellow people who have free wills and not from God. I do believe that God wants me to hold fast to my comfort and source of life, God and not to abandon faith at anytime. Jesus is warning me of the cruelty of my fellow human and encouraging me to hold fast to faith in God and the saving power of Christ. The Holy Spirit will give me the courage and wisdom needed to respond to those people who would cause harm. I am not to be surprised by any persecution, but be on guard for it as a disciple of Jesus.