Following The Will Of God Takes Determination… Yet, in this world there are various distractions coming in a variety of forms. There are, also, pressures that come from different people in this world that seem to impede the spread of the Word of God. They come from people in governments, political organizations, social causes, and several other important organizations that take-up social needs or wants that are opposed to the correct view of things simply because your a Christian and are not ashamed of it (Romans 1:16).
I recently experienced this at work. While I am not ashamed of my Saviour’s love for me and try to bring Jesus Christ during pivotal moments in my conversations both with the owner, staff, and adult students, there was a few staff and students who did not like my approach concerning how bold I was for the Gospel. While not speaking, I would wear shirts that had Jesus Christ all over them, and being nice about my actions some students, staff, and the owner criticize my work. It was brutal because staff wouldn’t tell me to my face so I could make corrective action. Instead, they epitomized the definition of gossiping. Some of the staff and students were “nice” to me while going behind my back and complaining about my work. I was despondent.
Yet, how easily True Life Christians forget that Christ said it will never be easy proclaiming the Gospel. According to the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:12-14, 27-29, the Scripture says that he was imprisoned. And this was not a minor offense; this happened about a decade or two after Christ was taken up to heaven. Let me do some quoting to bolster the fact that you can expect to suffer for the name of Christ if you take what He says seriously.
“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel, so it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear. … Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so whether I come to see you or am absent, that I may hear of you standing in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but should also suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:12-14, 27-29 ESV).
For in John 15:18-27, Jesus Christ proclaims,
“If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will, also, persecute you. … But All these things they will do to you on the account of My name, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. … But the word in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will also bear witness about Me. And you will also bear witness about Me because you have been with Me from the beginning” (ESV).
Most Christians who I have come in contact with would heartily agree with suffering for the name of Christ. In a testless avenue, all Christians would agree. Correct? However, when it comes right down to it, would you suffer even the loss of your job when most everybody in the world lives pay check to pay check? However, those passages of Scripture rings evidently True when you are confronting trials of work when they want you to act in a certain way to conform to their ways or at least stay silent about it, social pressure that creeps into every area of your life that goes against what it says in the Scripture, and on and on I could go. Yes, my story of how I was mistreated at work through mainly gossip is a minor one. However, if you want to read, listen to, or both, I would suggest the book “The Insanity Of God: A True Story Of Faith Resurrected” or the movie version: The Insanity Of God Movie in which Nik and Ruth Ripken tell of their missionary work. It is during their missionary work in Somalia that the question to all of us True Life Christians should answer- Is Jesus worth it?– when they saw no fruit from their harvesting in and at Somaliland.
Therefore, Following The Will Of God Takes Determination… even through the rough spots in this physical life, especially through uncharted waters.
~Darren
* only blog author
**Take a few moments & listen to this song (although it is more on the harder side, its message Is truly inspiring: “Cassie~Flyleaf”
TrueLifeChristianity.com 