1 Peter 3:17 KJV
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
And it does appear that the will of God be that most, if not all, Christians suffer for well doing.
2 Tim 3:12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (KJV)
Matt 10:22-24
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. (KJV)
There have been times in history when Christians suffered more for well doing than other times. There was a time when almost all genuine believers suffered significant persecution. But even then not all of them were killed.
I read a statement last night about William Tyndale, whose efforts to bring the Bible into the English language benefit us still today but caused him great loss. When asked about his difficult life he said, "I never expected anything else."
Perhaps one of the greatest weaknesses in the Christian faith today is that we have come to expect something else. We have come to expect reward, recognition, even worldly gain for our well doing. Sometimes when that gain does not come, we quit the well doing.
God help us to surrender to the wonderful will of God. Our recognition and reward, yea even our gain is coming. But it is coming when it will do the most good, when we get to glory and it cannot be corrupted.
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
And it does appear that the will of God be that most, if not all, Christians suffer for well doing.
2 Tim 3:12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (KJV)
Matt 10:22-24
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. (KJV)
There have been times in history when Christians suffered more for well doing than other times. There was a time when almost all genuine believers suffered significant persecution. But even then not all of them were killed.
I read a statement last night about William Tyndale, whose efforts to bring the Bible into the English language benefit us still today but caused him great loss. When asked about his difficult life he said, "I never expected anything else."
Perhaps one of the greatest weaknesses in the Christian faith today is that we have come to expect something else. We have come to expect reward, recognition, even worldly gain for our well doing. Sometimes when that gain does not come, we quit the well doing.
God help us to surrender to the wonderful will of God. Our recognition and reward, yea even our gain is coming. But it is coming when it will do the most good, when we get to glory and it cannot be corrupted.
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