The more you deny yourself and give up things in your life because of Jesus Christ, and the more you live according to what the Word; Jesus says, the more you will be persecuted by the world and by the people around you. Following Jesus means, paying a price. Unfortunately, there are not many Christians, who are willing to pay this price. Because following Jesus will cost you everything! It means giving up yourself; your own will, opinion, thoughts, feelings, wishes, lusts, and desires. Besides that, following Jesus will have consequences for your relationships with colleagues, acquaintances, friends, family, and sometimes even Christians, who are not like-minded. When you don’t live according to the world and deny the things, which the world doesn’t consider evil, and when you do what the Bible; the Word of God tells you to do, you will be persecuted. Following Jesus could mean, that you have to give up your family, friends, acquaintances, and colleagues. You may lose them, all because of the decision you’ve made to follow Jesus and to stay obedient to the Word. But not everyone is willing to lose people for Jesus. That’s why the Word is twisted and adjusted and Christians compromise with the world.
The price for following Jesus
But Jesus said, that He came to bring division and that you will be hated because of Him (Matthew 10:22). He warned His disciples about this matter, and He revealed the price. He made known, what it would mean and what it would cost, to follow Him, and to walk as the new creation; as a son of God.
Many times, Christians begin to doubt themselves, as soon as they are persecuted and accused by the people, whom they are fond of and whom they love. They begin to wonder, whether they are indeed too enthusiastic, too exaggerated, too old-fashioned, or become too legalistic.
But discipline and taking a stand for Jesus Christ and staying obedient to the Word, and not compromising with the world and its works, has nothing to do with legalism or being too old-fashioned. But it has everything to do, with your love for Jesus Christ.
The world wants you to believe, that you are too religious, too legalistic, and too old fashion, but these are big lies from the devil.
When you haven’t killed and laid down your flesh, then these opinions of people matters and will get to you. But when you have laid down your flesh, the opinions of the world and people will no longer bother you. You have become untouchable in Christ. Because you know, that it’s not about what the world thinks of you, but what Jesus and what God thinks of you. That’s what really matters.
Jesus came to bring division and discord within families
Jesus said, that He didn’t come to bring peace, such as the world defines peace. But Jesus said that He came to bring division on this earth. Yes, even discord within families.
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household (Matthew 10:34-36)
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law (Luke 12:51-53)
Jesus was not afraid to lose people
Jesus was not afraid to lose people. When the majority of Jesus’ followers left Him, Jesus even dared to ask His disciples if they wanted to leave Him also (John 6:67). Jesus knew, that He spoke hard words, that offended the carnal nature of the old creation. Jesus knew, that not everyone was able to hear these words, without being offended. Let alone accept and obey His words. But the truth was needed to expose all the lies, which kept people in darkness and bondage. Yes, it was necessary to speak hard words.
Jesus didn’t compromise with the world, for the sake of winning and pleasing people. Nor did Jesus allow anyone to tempt or mislead Him.
Jesus feared His Father; Jesus loved Him above all and respected Him, and therefore Jesus only stayed faithful and obedient to Him, by doing His will.
It cost Jesus everything to fulfill the will of His Father. Jesus shrank from nothing.
Jesus His attitude should be an example for the sons of God
The attitude of Jesus Christ should be an example for all born-again Christians. Although Jesus was born on this earth, Jesus didn’t belong to this world; the kingdom of the devil. Jesus belonged to the Kingdom of God. Jesus, the Son of God, was an Ambassador; a Representative of the Kingdom of God, and preached and brought the Kingdom of God to the people.
As a born again believer, you have become a son of God. You have become an Ambassador; a representative, of the Kingdom of God.
Although you live on this earth, you no longer belong to this world. This means, that you will not live according to what the world says, but according to what the Word says.
When you apply His words in your life and stay obedient to Him, then the world shall consider you a fool. But God shall consider you a wise son, who listens and obeys His words and does His will.
The world forces Christians to compromise with the world and to tolerate and accept sin and iniquity. Yes, the world forces Christians to approve and accept things, which are an abomination to God, and therefore also to them.
The ruler of this world, which is the devil, works in the sons of this world. The devil is their father, and they listen to and obey him. The unbelievers, who are sinners, shall do the will of their father; the devil and the works of their father, which go against the Word of God and against the will of God.
The devil shall do everything he can to deceive and tempt Christians and cause them to turn away from Jesus; the Word and compromise with the world.
A friend of the world is an enemy of God
But the Bible; the Word says, that friendship of the world is enmity with God and that whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God (James 4:4)
It is up to you, what you do with it. Will you be led by your feelings and emotions, and compromise with the world and accept things, which are an abomination to God? Will you walk in false love? Do you take a stand for the world or do you take a stand for Jesus Christ and do you stay obedient to the Word?
If you chose the latter one then persecution will come from the people around you. It could even mean, that you will be persecuted by the church. You must be aware, that the devil especially uses people, who you know very well and are close to you, in order to try to lead you away from the Word, so that you will compromise and enter the self-chosen paths of the world.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
