Destined for Trials

"We sent Timothy, who is our brother, and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled in these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. In fact when we were with you, we kept telling you we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way as you well know." 1 Thessalonians 3:2-4

We really should understand that faith, when lived out, will produce trials. Not just the trouble that comes from living in a corrupted world or living in dying bodies, but the trials that come from being persecuted for believing. Literally. We will be despised and rejected, mocked and targeted. We don’t really know or understand this kind of persecution. Maybe we know of a missionary or minister somewhere else who has been assaulted or arrested. We may have read of believers who have been burned out of their church or home or even martyred. This past week was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. I am thinking about his death and his life and his words and his cause. Can you imagine being persecuted for the color of your skin? I choose to be a Christian, but I didn’t choose to be the color I am. I remember racial hatred. I have heard it again not that long ago. We should expect persecution, rejection and hatred for our beliefs. “In fact,” the verses say, we were told. I long for a day when no one needs to "in fact" be told they will be persecuted, despised and rejected, hated because of the color of their skin. Expect persecution, Christians, but do not accept racism.

In Him there is no black, white, brown, yellow, red, etc…just human.
Pastor Fred

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