Being Prepared

"You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:10-17).

I am aware that today's Scripture selection is longer than usual. I want to highlight just one phrase in it but felt the surrounding context is especially important to fill our hearts. I encourage you to read it slowly, perhaps aloud, if you are in a place where you can do so.

We regularly count our blessings in our family. We do this in part to resist the tendency to take our blessings for granted. God has indeed blessed me with a wonderful wife and family and comparatively a very good life on this earth. As we join hands in prayer before our meals I often pray, "Thank you Lord that we continue to experience Your blessings of freedom, peace and provision in our home."

But we wonder how much longer these times will last and our faith in God is certainly not contingent on whether or not they do.

I consider how different my life is than a similar aged male in Sudan (although I wonder how many even live as long as I have.) I consider God's love for me and God's love for him and, although our lives are dramatically different, yet His love is identical for both of us.

I have before me an excellent message by James K. Bridges titled, "Critical Questions We Must Ask Ourselves” (To see message, click here). Essentially he solemnly calls believers to consider what may very well be coming in regard to the current direction civilization is going. He points out that the World Christian Encyclopedia has indicated that from A.D. 33 to 2000 there were an estimated 70 million martyrs. However from A.D. 33-1900 there were 25 million and 45 million in the last century alone. WOW.

So many of us reading this material just can't grasp that. Our lives have been so free from persecution of any type. We may even suppose we have a right to live out our lives in freedom and prosperity. The portion of the daily text that again grips my heart as I share this is, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

I frankly struggle with the meaning of this verse based on my own personal observation and experience. Clearly many millions of believers have lived facing very little persecution in their lifetime, apart from ridicule and perhaps scorn. But I believe we need to be prepared to see this increase and perhaps include more severe and physical types, even martyrdom.

Bridges' message concludes with a powerful challenge. "The church must arouse out of its intoxication with the Laodicean spirit (Revelation 3:16,17). The church must not be like King Belshazzar who celebrated in his banquet hall while the enemy was conquering his capital and his kingdom (Daniel 5:30, 31). These are times when the church must be like 'the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do'" (1 Chronicles 12:32).

Be encouraged and strong in the Lord today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we pray that we will not be fearful or ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that Christ will be exalted through us, whether by life or by death. Whatever happens, help us to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that we honor Your name and bring strength to the Christian body. Amen.

Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.