The Word of God is clear that followers of Christ – anyone wanting to live a godly life – will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12) If life would be easier without following Christ, why then should I follow him? If I know that God’s ways call me to live differently than the societal norms, why wouldn’t I sort of pick and choose the ones that allow me the best opportunity to stay in good graces with the “popular opinion” of those around me?
First of all, I want to remind myself and anyone else who is reading my thoughts, that following God and knowing more about the God we follow because of his son, Jesus Christ, is an absolute honor. God deserves and desires to be first in the hearts, minds, and thoughts of his followers. When we give God that place, we grow in our relationship with him. Our vision clears up. We see what we had previously been unable to see. We are given gifts to use for God’s glory that we have never had before. We begin to be transformed into a Christ-likeness that frankly is unachievable apart from putting God first. When we put God first and follow him wholeheartedly our lives cannot and will not be the same.
I want that kind of transformation. I know that behavior shaping is not an overnight process. It takes time. It takes work. However, I also know first hand that the hard work is worth the investment. If shaping behaviors like self-control and anger-regulation are challenging how much more challenging is it for us to change our sin nature which fits so perfectly into what our culture promotes? And yet, friend, our sin nature must not be ignored. We cannot be ok with sin and claim to be God-followers.
God is holy. He is without sin. There is no sin within him. None. We, on the other hand, seem to be hard-wired for it. It is time then, that we stop trying to ignore the “bad wiring” within us, that we stop trying to fix ourselves, and seek the help of the expert electrician. It will only be through God’s strength and God’s mercy and grace that we are ever able to be freed from the chains sin puts upon us.
But make no mistake, it is possible to be free. God followers may be guaranteed to have persecution here on earth – but the truth is we will never face that persecution on our own! We will always find ourselves in the presence of Jesus. Christ goes before us. Christ goes behind us. Christ is in us. The biggest threats that come from persecution here on earth – even the threat of death – has already been conquered by the Savior of the World. What then do we have to fear? There is freedom from all fear in Christ.
So how do I remain faithful? How do I keep myself from becoming distracted by my culture, my schedule, the persuasive opinions of others?
“But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
We have to be in the Word. We have to read it. Know it. Memorize it. Live it. The Word of God is the best tool to help us remain faithful.
We can ask God for clarity. “God as I read your word today, would you open my eyes to what you would say to me today through it? LORD, would you help me to understand it? Would you help me to interpret it through your lens and not the skewed lens of the sin of my heart and my culture? My desire is to walk in obedience to you. My desire is to live this life in a way that honors you and is set apart on the path of holiness. Help me. Lead me. Show me.” When we pray those kinds of prayers – when we ask God for understanding and clarity regarding his words of truth – he will give it. He not only gives it – he gladly gives it. That request honors him.
Friend, may we desire God above all else. May we seek holiness and obedience to God’s teaching above popular opinion. May we set our minds on what is permanent and eternal over that which will end here on earth. May we invest in doing the hard work to choke out the sin within us and live in ways that release the power of God in its place.
Blessings!