Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 95

April 5;    2 Timothy 3:12;    95/260(II);    ‘Living Godly’

2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin, the founder of the Bible School we attended always said, “If everyone likes you, you are doing something wrong.”  The simple truth is, when we choose to live in a godly, holy manner, our lives convict others.  Often the result of godly living is mockery and persecution.  In reality, we should wear persecution as a badge of honor.  We are in good company when this happens.  The Lord Jesus told us in John 15:20, “If they persecuted Me they will persecute you.”  After to miracle of healing the crippled man at the beautiful gate of the temple, the religious leaders beat the Apostles Peter and John.  They departed from them rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Lord Jesus.  My favorite scripture concerning being persecuted is Galatians 6:17.  The Apostle Paul tells us, “From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.  There is another side to this.  When you are persecuted for living godly in Jesus and you accept the persecution ‘lovingly,’ and without retaliation, this is a powerful witness for the Lord Jesus and the commitment you have to Him.  The Lord Jesus said it best as He hung on the cross, giving His life, punished with our sins and sicknesses, “Father forgive them they do not know what they do.”  I Corinthians 13:8 tells us that love never fails.  The Bible teaches us to return good for evil.  As we live in obedience to the Word, our lives can and do make an impact of the lost.  Persecution proves that we are striving to live in a manner that brings glory to God.  Love for them gladly accepts their response to us.