Devotion 2: Expect Persecution
“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’” Matthew 2:13
“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.” Matthew 2:16
The word Gospel translates to good news. Jesus coming to Earth, living a perfect life, and taking the punishment that we deserve upon Himself on the cross so that we can be in right standing with God is good news. However, you first must understand that there is bad news before you can accept the good news. The bad news is that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
If you do not understand the bad news, you will not accept the good news. If you do not think you are a sinner in need of a Savior, why would you care about the payment Jesus made? You must accept the bad news first.
This, at its core, is offensive to the world. This news can bring a lot of different reactions, and frankly, it is what we would often call the scariest part of sharing the Gospel, “Will the other person still accept, love, or like me?”
While I want to acknowledge those concerns, it does not change the call to go into the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19), and that call will sometimes bring back a negative reaction. The New Testament is very clear that we, as Christians, will be persecuted. In 1 Peter 4:12-13, we read, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
Just as King Herod was intimidated by Jesus’ birth as a possible threat to his power, the Roman and Jewish cultures after Jesus’ resurrection were intimidated by Christianity’s influence and power. While our current American society may not be seen as being worried about Christianity’s influence and power to the same extent, I do not know if I fully agree. I think the world does not have a problem with “lukewarm Christians” who go to church on Sunday and do not practice the faith outside of that. The world does have a problem with true Christians who are actively sharing their faith and actively looking to bring more people out of the domain of darkness, and into the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Colossians 1:13).
Our call is clear. We will experience resistance to our call from the world, but it does not change what Jesus Himself calls us to do. Matthew 28:18-20 says, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”