“If you are censured and suffer
abuse [because you bear] the name of Christ, blessed [are you—happy, fortunate,
to be envied, with life-joy, and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation,
regardless of your outward condition], because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit
of God, is resting upon you.
On their part He is blasphemed, but on
your part He is glorified.” I
Peter 4:14 AMP
I must realize that Jesus is not only a great tension
reliever, but also a tension “bringer”.
If I expect Him to relieve all my tensions, I have a vain
expectancy. Merely, to know and follow
Jesus will create all kinds of problems for me.
Mary, His mother, received that word when she gave Him
birth; “A sword will pierce even your own soul.” (Lk 2:5)
Have I felt the piercing of my soul because of my commitment
to Jesus?
Have I lost friends, seen families divided or seen
increasing bitterness among acquaintances because I determined to make Him my
all?
Mary must have gone through a thousand agonies once Jesus
was born. There must have been tension
in the home.
“For his own brothers did not believe in him.” John 7:5 NIV
How did Mary manage to referee between her holy Son and her
other natural children? How could she
stand their hatred of Him, knowing all the while who He was?
When Jesus later said, “A prophet is not without honor
except in his home town” was He referring to the daily snubs of His half
brothers and sisters? (Matt. 13:57)
Jesus said He “did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matt. 10:334) He came to make mothers and daughters and
fathers and sons one another’s enemies. (vs 35)
I am a very poor disciple indeed if I cannot name one person
who has been offended because I chose to follow Jesus. But I must be careful that it is for His
sake that enemies are made, not for my own.
When my own rights and privileges are concerned, I must be
as harmless as a dove; but when His rights and privileges are concerned, I must
be a militant warrior.
Lord, give me wisdom to discern when I must be militant;
then give me the assurance of Jeremiah:
“But the Lord is with me as a mighty and
terrible One; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not overcome
[me]. They will be utterly put to shame, for they will not deal wisely or
prosper [in their schemes]; their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.” Jeremiah 20:11 AMP
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