Persecution included

For those out there who are going through trials, tests, and just plain turbulent times…my prayers are with you. Trials are a necessary part of Christian life. Persecution can come from any direction and in these last times, it seems some are bent on doing the work that should be left to Satan and his minions. But, we read in 2 Timothy 3:12-13 that, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

It is difficult when accusations come against us from various and sometimes unknown foes. What should we do when this happens? The answer is given by Jesus Christ in Matthew 5:44-45, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

This is the difficult task that all Christians must bear…regardless of current trial or test, and apart from the pulls of human nature that cry out against this type of light shining behavior – to love our enemies.