October 24

The godly shall suffer

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12).
“But let none of you suffer as a murderer . . . or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:15-16).

All that live godly in this world shall suffer persecution. Do not let us be surprised if we are persecuted, but remember that the faithful people of God have always been so treated in the past. Neither let us groan or grumble, but rather “rejoice, and be exceeding glad.”
At the same time let us see well to it that the opposition we encounter is to our holiness and not to our sourness; that the persecution we suffer is for righteousness’ sake and not for any less glorious cause. Satisfied on these points, let us be careful to go on enjoying and preaching and witnessing to full salvation quite irrespective of the treatment we may be receiving. Our God has promised with every temptation or trial to make a way for our escape. Let us expect Him to do so. Nay, more than this, let us claim that the scene of every such attack shall become the place of victory.
—Reader Harris.

God does not often, as He easily could, cut off persecutions at a stroke. But He provides a hiding place for His people, and by methods not less effectual, though less pompous, preserves them from being swept away, even when the enemy comes in like a flood.
—John Wesley.

Then learn to scorn the praise of men,
And learn to lose with God;
For Jesus won the world through shame,
And beckons thee His road.

God’s glory is a wondrous thing,
Most strange in all its ways,
And, of all things on earth, least like
What men agree to praise.

As He can endless glory weave
From what men reckon shame,
In His own world He is content
To play a losing game.
—F. Faber.

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