Tuesday, December 7th, 2021

Never before have the people of our world been so capable of being connected but also so insistent on being separated. These lines we have drawn are not of God and thus should not be viewed as anything other than lies of the enemy. For even the line of believers and non-believers is a non-exclusionary line: anyone can cross it. There is nothing of God that can prevent anyone from believing. But even with this being the case, some do not and therein conflict arises. Standing for what is righteous in the Lord’s eyes is often a source of scorn, ridicule, and, sometimes, persecution, in the world today. The Apostle Peter wrote on this issue, saying, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.” The enemy wants us to be afraid of suffering for the Lord because the more we fret over our short time on earth, the less we think about eternity. And when we do not think about eternity, we do what we feel right now. And what feels good right now is almost never standing for righteousness. Thus, Peter urges us to remember God’s promise to bless us for standing, and even suffering, for righteousness, for that not only affects our eternity, it also affects our world today. Our world is in need of Godly righteousness. Today, if you are experiencing suffering for righteousness sake, be bolstered in your faith that it is what is pleasing to the Lord.

“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.”

”—1 Peter 3:13-14 ESV