The Most Persecuted People in the World - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. -Matthew 5:11
Who are the most persecuted people in the world? Pew Research Center surveys say that Christians are. By persecution, I don't mean global crises that affect us all. I'm talking about discrimination, verbal assault, physical attacks, and arrests.
Every day our Christian brothers and sisters suffer barbaric treatment in nations all around the world. People hound, torture, and execute them simply for their belief in Jesus Christ.
Make no mistake, persecution is alive and well.
Yet the Bible says, that "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12 NLT).
We wish that verse wasn't there, but it is. And it's true. Every follower of Jesus will, in time, suffer persecution in some form. It might be financial, physical, or verbal.
So, what should we do when it happens?
Jesus said, "God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way" (Matthew 5:11-12 NLT).
By the way, let's make sure we're suffering for the right reasons. Sometimes Christians are persecuted not for righteousness' sake, but because they say or do offensive things. They're rude and mean. They're cranky.
And when someone calls them on it, they think, "Praise God! I'm suffering persecution for righteousness' sake."
No, they're suffering persecution because they're being obnoxious.
So, if you're experiencing persecution because of your faith in Jesus, take heart. God sees what you're going through. The Bible tells us, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21 NKJV).
And remember this: the Christian faith not only is worth dying for, but it's also worth living for.
Leave Payback to God - by Greg Laurie -
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
-Romans 12:17
"Never hate your enemies," said Michael Corleone in The Godfather, Part III, "It affects your judgment."
Our job is to forgive; God's job is to avenge. When someone hits us we want to hit back, don't we? And if someone hurts us we want to hurt them. We want to settle the score. We want payback.
If you're a Christian, however, that is not the way you should live. God says, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay" (Romans 12:19 NKJV).
The apostle Paul knew what it was like to be mistreated. I think no other leader in the first century suffered more than he did.
Yet it was Paul who wrote, "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men" (Romans 12:17 NKJV).
And he modeled this as well. When he was arrested with Silas for preaching the gospel, the jailer was especially cruel. He beat them and tore open their backs with a whip. Then he fastened their feet in stocks and put them in the deep recesses of a filthy, horrible dungeon.
Then we read, "At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed" (Acts 16:25-26 NKJV).
The jailer, realizing he would be executed for escaped prisoners, was about to kill himself. But Paul called out to him, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here" (verse 28 NKJV).
He extended grace to this man. And ultimately, he led the jailer and his family to Christ.
His example shows us that when we're hurt or offended, we need to let God settle the score.
The Righteous Man
“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” (1 John 3:7)
There is an old spiritual song that has the phrase “ev’ry body talkin’ ‘bout heav’n ain’t goin’ there.” That’s a good summary statement of biblical truth—and worth repeating. As our text puts it, the righteous man does righteousness. But there is more to this principle.
A Righteous Man Knows He Is Righteous: As a young man, King David was very conscious of his righteousness. David knew that he had “clean hands,” that he “kept the ways of the LORD,” and that he had neither “done wickedly” nor “departed” from God. David was also careful to put the “judgments” and the “statutes” of God out in front of his thoughts. “Therefore,” he said, “hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness” (Psalm 18:20-24).
A Righteous Man Loves Righteousness: The opening stanza of the majestic Psalm 119 makes this statement: “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways” (Psalm 119:2-3). The apostle John is even more succinct: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3).
A Righteous Man Resolves to Live Righteously: “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way…I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person” (Psalm 101:2-4).
Those who long to be with God long to be like God. HMM III
“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” (1 John 3:7)
There is an old spiritual song that has the phrase “ev’ry body talkin’ ‘bout heav’n ain’t goin’ there.” That’s a good summary statement of biblical truth—and worth repeating. As our text puts it, the righteous man does righteousness. But there is more to this principle.
A Righteous Man Knows He Is Righteous: As a young man, King David was very conscious of his righteousness. David knew that he had “clean hands,” that he “kept the ways of the LORD,” and that he had neither “done wickedly” nor “departed” from God. David was also careful to put the “judgments” and the “statutes” of God out in front of his thoughts. “Therefore,” he said, “hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness” (Psalm 18:20-24).
A Righteous Man Loves Righteousness: The opening stanza of the majestic Psalm 119 makes this statement: “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways” (Psalm 119:2-3). The apostle John is even more succinct: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3).
A Righteous Man Resolves to Live Righteously: “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way…I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person” (Psalm 101:2-4).
Those who long to be with God long to be like God. HMM III
Afraid to Understand
“For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.” (Mark 9:31-32)
When the Lord Jesus told His disciples about His coming death and resurrection, He could hardly have spoken more plainly, yet they “understood not.” Not willing to believe that He meant what He said (with all its uncomfortable implications for their own futures), they were “afraid to ask Him” what He meant, lest He confirm that His words should be taken literally.
This was not the only time. Again and again He told them that He would be crucified and then rise again, but they could not (or would not) understand. On one such occasion, Peter even rebuked Him, and said: “Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” But the Lord answered, “Get thee behind me, Satan” (Matthew 16:22-23). A refusal to take God’s Word literally, at least in this case, was said by Christ to be inspired by Satan!
Modern evangelical Christians no longer doubt the reality of His sacrificial death and bodily resurrection, for the evidence has become overwhelming, and these truths have become the glory and power of the gospel. Nevertheless, fearful reluctance to take God’s Word literally is still a great problem among some “Bible believers.” Whenever such a stand might become costly, many Christians eagerly accept non-literal ways of “interpreting” Scripture to fit their own preferences. This approach, of course, is especially widespread in modern accommodations of the creation/Flood record of Genesis to the philosophies of modern evolutionary humanism. We should remember always that, ju
“For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.” (Mark 9:31-32)
When the Lord Jesus told His disciples about His coming death and resurrection, He could hardly have spoken more plainly, yet they “understood not.” Not willing to believe that He meant what He said (with all its uncomfortable implications for their own futures), they were “afraid to ask Him” what He meant, lest He confirm that His words should be taken literally.
This was not the only time. Again and again He told them that He would be crucified and then rise again, but they could not (or would not) understand. On one such occasion, Peter even rebuked Him, and said: “Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” But the Lord answered, “Get thee behind me, Satan” (Matthew 16:22-23). A refusal to take God’s Word literally, at least in this case, was said by Christ to be inspired by Satan!
Modern evangelical Christians no longer doubt the reality of His sacrificial death and bodily resurrection, for the evidence has become overwhelming, and these truths have become the glory and power of the gospel. Nevertheless, fearful reluctance to take God’s Word literally is still a great problem among some “Bible believers.” Whenever such a stand might become costly, many Christians eagerly accept non-literal ways of “interpreting” Scripture to fit their own preferences. This approach, of course, is especially widespread in modern accommodations of the creation/Flood record of Genesis to the philosophies of modern evolutionary humanism. We should remember always that, ju
st as in Christ’s predictions of His death and resurrection, God always means exactly what He says in His Word. HMM
A Righteous Heart
“And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel.” (1 Kings 11:9)
The Scriptures have an interesting commentary on Solomon’s life: “When Solomon was old…his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God” (1 Kings 11:4). How is it possible to start well and end sadly?
We Must Guard Our Heart: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life,” Solomon admonished in Proverbs 4:23. The Hebrew word for “keep” is natsar and the main verb for “guard” or “set a watch.” Psalm 119 uses natsar 10 times to demand our careful “watch” on our obedience and use of the Word of God. The promise is “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart” (Psalm 119:2).
Store the Good Treasure: In one of his many confrontations with the Pharisees, Jesus gave several illustrations about the impact of the “heart” part of our nature. Jesus spoke of binding the “strong man,” noting that a tree produces the fruit it was grown for and that snakes are always snakes. Then Jesus makes this observation: “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” (Matthew 12:35).
Others Will Try to Turn Your Heart: Jeroboam (1 Kings 11–12) led Israel in rebellion against Judah and against God. He “devised of his own heart” (1 Kings 12:33) liturgical practices that “made Israel to sin” (1 Kings 15:34). Peter warns: “Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness” (2 Peter 3:17).
We must guard our hearts, “for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). HMM III
“And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel.” (1 Kings 11:9)
The Scriptures have an interesting commentary on Solomon’s life: “When Solomon was old…his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God” (1 Kings 11:4). How is it possible to start well and end sadly?
We Must Guard Our Heart: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life,” Solomon admonished in Proverbs 4:23. The Hebrew word for “keep” is natsar and the main verb for “guard” or “set a watch.” Psalm 119 uses natsar 10 times to demand our careful “watch” on our obedience and use of the Word of God. The promise is “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart” (Psalm 119:2).
Store the Good Treasure: In one of his many confrontations with the Pharisees, Jesus gave several illustrations about the impact of the “heart” part of our nature. Jesus spoke of binding the “strong man,” noting that a tree produces the fruit it was grown for and that snakes are always snakes. Then Jesus makes this observation: “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” (Matthew 12:35).
Others Will Try to Turn Your Heart: Jeroboam (1 Kings 11–12) led Israel in rebellion against Judah and against God. He “devised of his own heart” (1 Kings 12:33) liturgical practices that “made Israel to sin” (1 Kings 15:34). Peter warns: “Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness” (2 Peter 3:17).
We must guard our hearts, “for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). HMM III
The Witness of Creation
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.” (Revelation 3:14)
This salutation in the last of the seven church epistles in Revelation contains the last of four occurrences of the distinctive phrase “the beginning of the creation.” The glorified Christ here assumes this as one of His divine names. Even God’s work of creation, long since completed (Genesis 2:1-3), had a beginning, and that beginning was Christ. “In the beginning was the Word…and…all things were made by him” (John 1:1-3).
The first two occurrences of this phrase also come from the lips of Christ. “From the beginning of the creation God made them male and female” (Mark 10:6). This assertion by the Creator, Jesus Christ, quoting Genesis 1:27, makes it unambiguously certain that Adam and Eve were created at the beginning of creation, not after the earth had already existed for 4.6 billion years. God also wrote this plainly on the tables of the law (Exodus 20:8-11). Those evangelicals who accept the geological ages evidently reject this clear statement of the creation’s Creator!
Then Christ also referred to the end-times in the context of the beginning-times. “In those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be” (Mark 13:19).
The phrase is also used in Peter’s very important prophecy concerning the scoffers of the end-times, who will argue (in willful ignorance) that “all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:3-4), thereby denying that there ever was a real creation or real Creator and thus rejecting Christ Himself. But He is also the “true witness” and the “Amen,” and such denials will only be “unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). HMM
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.” (Revelation 3:14)
This salutation in the last of the seven church epistles in Revelation contains the last of four occurrences of the distinctive phrase “the beginning of the creation.” The glorified Christ here assumes this as one of His divine names. Even God’s work of creation, long since completed (Genesis 2:1-3), had a beginning, and that beginning was Christ. “In the beginning was the Word…and…all things were made by him” (John 1:1-3).
The first two occurrences of this phrase also come from the lips of Christ. “From the beginning of the creation God made them male and female” (Mark 10:6). This assertion by the Creator, Jesus Christ, quoting Genesis 1:27, makes it unambiguously certain that Adam and Eve were created at the beginning of creation, not after the earth had already existed for 4.6 billion years. God also wrote this plainly on the tables of the law (Exodus 20:8-11). Those evangelicals who accept the geological ages evidently reject this clear statement of the creation’s Creator!
Then Christ also referred to the end-times in the context of the beginning-times. “In those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be” (Mark 13:19).
The phrase is also used in Peter’s very important prophecy concerning the scoffers of the end-times, who will argue (in willful ignorance) that “all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:3-4), thereby denying that there ever was a real creation or real Creator and thus rejecting Christ Himself. But He is also the “true witness” and the “Amen,” and such denials will only be “unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). HMM
Ascending Vapors
“He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.” (Psalm 135:7)
This striking verse is practically identical with Jeremiah 10:13 and 51:16, suggesting the possibility that the prophet Jeremiah may have written the otherwise anonymous Psalm 135. The two Jeremiah passages do preface this statement with the note that there is “a multitude of waters in the heavens” in connection with the processes described in the verse.
In any case, this thrice-mentioned mechanism beautifully summarized what we now call the hydrologic cycle, and it did so over 2,000 years before the cycle began to be understood by modern scientists. In order to provide rain to water the earth, there must be vapors ascending all over the earth (that is, evaporation from the world’s great oceans), winds then blowing from God’s unseen treasury (actually the global atmospheric circulation), and, finally, lightnings for (or “with”) the rain (electrical discharges associated with the condensation and coalescence of the particles of water vapor in the atmosphere). All of this repeatedly transports purified waters from the ocean back over the lands to fall as rain and snow, there finally to run off back to the oceans after performing their life-sustaining ministries on the lands. “Unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again” (Ecclesiastes 1:7).
Not only does this hydrologic cycle sustain physical life on Earth, but it also is a type of the spreading of God’s Word, giving spiritual life. “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth,…So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please” (Isaiah 55:10-11). HMM
“He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.” (Psalm 135:7)
This striking verse is practically identical with Jeremiah 10:13 and 51:16, suggesting the possibility that the prophet Jeremiah may have written the otherwise anonymous Psalm 135. The two Jeremiah passages do preface this statement with the note that there is “a multitude of waters in the heavens” in connection with the processes described in the verse.
In any case, this thrice-mentioned mechanism beautifully summarized what we now call the hydrologic cycle, and it did so over 2,000 years before the cycle began to be understood by modern scientists. In order to provide rain to water the earth, there must be vapors ascending all over the earth (that is, evaporation from the world’s great oceans), winds then blowing from God’s unseen treasury (actually the global atmospheric circulation), and, finally, lightnings for (or “with”) the rain (electrical discharges associated with the condensation and coalescence of the particles of water vapor in the atmosphere). All of this repeatedly transports purified waters from the ocean back over the lands to fall as rain and snow, there finally to run off back to the oceans after performing their life-sustaining ministries on the lands. “Unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again” (Ecclesiastes 1:7).
Not only does this hydrologic cycle sustain physical life on Earth, but it also is a type of the spreading of God’s Word, giving spiritual life. “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth,…So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please” (Isaiah 55:10-11). HMM
Sometimes Saying Less Is More - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. -Romans 12:15
This may surprise you coming from a preacher, but people don't always need a sermon. Sometimes, they just need a friend. They need someone to show a little compassion.
The Bible tells us to "rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15 NKJV).
For instance, remember the calamities that befell godly Job? He didn't know the Lord had been bragging on in him in front of the angels and Lucifer, but he woke up one morning and one disaster after another struck his life.
He lost his children. He lost his livelihood and his possessions. He even lost his health. When his body was covered head-to-toe in massive boils, his wife came along and said, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9 NKJV).
When someone you know is in pain sometimes saying less is more because sometimes when we're trying to encourage someone, we actually say the wrong thing. We always feel like we have to have the answer or a Bible verse for each situation. But, there's a time and a place for everything.
When our son Christopher went to be with the Lord I had a lot of people try to say things that would help me. Some things helped, and some things didn't help as much. But, I learned a lot about what it was like to be on the receiving end of those words.
I was always the person saying things to try and bring some comfort. Then suddenly I was the one listening to those things, and I understand that people don't always need to hear a sermon. They just need a little compassion.
The reality is that sometimes we say things to help, and they can actually end up hurting. That's why we have to choose our words carefully.
Our Sins in His Body
�Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.� (1 Peter 2:24)
When Christ suffered on the cross for our sins, His entire body suffered. A vicious crown of thorns was pressed into His brow, and then �they smote him on the head� and �spit upon him� (Mark 15:17, 19). He already was weak and battered from Pilate�s dreaded scourging with the infamous Roman cat-o�-nine-tails (John 19:1).
Cruel spikes were driven into His hands and nails into His feet, suspending His pain-racked body from the cross (Psalm 22:16). The word �stripes� in our text actually appears in the singular. Christ on the cross was one big stripe, or wound. Finally, He died (v. 33) and �one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water� (John 19:34).
Indeed, He was bearing our sins in every last part of His body on the tree! The enormity of the necessary payment provides a partial measure of the enormity of our sins in the sight of a holy God. �The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment� (Isaiah 1:5-6). �Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:�Their feet are swift to shed blood:�There is no fear of God before their eyes� (Romans 3:13, 15, 18).
But He bore all the sins of our body, and therefore we, in God�s sight, are dead to sins and alive to righteousness. �O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!� (Romans 11:33). HMM
�Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.� (1 Peter 2:24)
When Christ suffered on the cross for our sins, His entire body suffered. A vicious crown of thorns was pressed into His brow, and then �they smote him on the head� and �spit upon him� (Mark 15:17, 19). He already was weak and battered from Pilate�s dreaded scourging with the infamous Roman cat-o�-nine-tails (John 19:1).
Cruel spikes were driven into His hands and nails into His feet, suspending His pain-racked body from the cross (Psalm 22:16). The word �stripes� in our text actually appears in the singular. Christ on the cross was one big stripe, or wound. Finally, He died (v. 33) and �one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water� (John 19:34).
Indeed, He was bearing our sins in every last part of His body on the tree! The enormity of the necessary payment provides a partial measure of the enormity of our sins in the sight of a holy God. �The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment� (Isaiah 1:5-6). �Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:�Their feet are swift to shed blood:�There is no fear of God before their eyes� (Romans 3:13, 15, 18).
But He bore all the sins of our body, and therefore we, in God�s sight, are dead to sins and alive to righteousness. �O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!� (Romans 11:33). HMM
The Victor's Crown
�And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.� (1 Corinthians 9:25)
Ancient athletes who �strove for the mastery� devoted their whole lives to training and were �temperate in all things,� hoping thereby to receive the victor�s crown someday.
There are 21 references to the victor�s crown in the New Testament, in either the verb or noun form. In most of these, the crown is used as a symbol of the Christian�s �incorruptible� reward at the end of his spiritual race.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:19, it is called a �crown of rejoicing,� speaking of the joy awaiting the faithful witness when he meets again with those he has influenced for Christ in this present life. Paul spoke of our �crown of righteousness� (2 Timothy 4:8) when we shall be �like him� (1 John 3:2), with our old sinful weaknesses and desires gone forever. Peter said it would be a �crown of glory that fadeth not away� (1 Peter 5:4). James and John both said it is a wonderful �crown of life� (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10), that is, eternal life, in contrast to this present life of faithful submission to trials and persecution and possible death, for Christ�s sake.
The first four references to this victor�s crown, however, refer to the crown worn by Christ Himself. �Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!� (John 19:5).
Marvelous irony this, that a crown intended as an instrument of ridicule and pain would be transformed into a kingly crown of triumph! �But we see Jesus�crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man� (Hebrews 2:9). In the very suffering of death, He defeated death and sin and Satan himself, and His crown of thorns became a crown of eternal glory and universal honor. HMM
�And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.� (1 Corinthians 9:25)
Ancient athletes who �strove for the mastery� devoted their whole lives to training and were �temperate in all things,� hoping thereby to receive the victor�s crown someday.
There are 21 references to the victor�s crown in the New Testament, in either the verb or noun form. In most of these, the crown is used as a symbol of the Christian�s �incorruptible� reward at the end of his spiritual race.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:19, it is called a �crown of rejoicing,� speaking of the joy awaiting the faithful witness when he meets again with those he has influenced for Christ in this present life. Paul spoke of our �crown of righteousness� (2 Timothy 4:8) when we shall be �like him� (1 John 3:2), with our old sinful weaknesses and desires gone forever. Peter said it would be a �crown of glory that fadeth not away� (1 Peter 5:4). James and John both said it is a wonderful �crown of life� (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10), that is, eternal life, in contrast to this present life of faithful submission to trials and persecution and possible death, for Christ�s sake.
The first four references to this victor�s crown, however, refer to the crown worn by Christ Himself. �Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!� (John 19:5).
Marvelous irony this, that a crown intended as an instrument of ridicule and pain would be transformed into a kingly crown of triumph! �But we see Jesus�crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man� (Hebrews 2:9). In the very suffering of death, He defeated death and sin and Satan himself, and His crown of thorns became a crown of eternal glory and universal honor. HMM
Make Each Day Significant - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest,org
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. -Ephesians 5:15-16
Have you ever gotten a phone call in the middle of the night? When the phone rings your heart jumps because no one wants a call at that hour. And then for some strange reason, the caller usually asks, "Did I wake you?"
I don't know why, but generally, we deny it. Why can't we just say, "Yes, I was asleep. It's nighttime"?
In Romans 13 the apostle Paul warned Christians to wake up and stop living in denial about the fact that some of them were actually sleeping spiritually. He wrote, "And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed" (verse 11 NKJV).
The J. B. Phillips translation puts it this way: "Why all this stress on behaviour? Because, as I think you have realised, the present time is of the highest importance-it is time to wake up to reality. Every day brings God's salvation nearer."
What is the present time that Paul is referring to? I believe Paul is alluding to the fact of Christ's return. Do you believe that Jesus could come back today? That's good if you do. It means you're very astute theologically. He could come back today, so be aware of that reality.
Yet, there's another thing I would add: Be aware of the fact that you don't know how long you will live. I know many young people who have passed on. My son Christopher went to Heaven at the age of 33.
Let's live every day as though it could be our last because one day it will be. That is why Scripture says, "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12 NKJV). Especially at this time, keep perspective, and make each day count. Make each day significant.
Asleep at the Wheel - by Greg Laurie -
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. -Romans 13:11
Last year a driver fell fast asleep at the wheel of a self-driving car on the Massachusetts Turnpike. His passenger also had nodded off. An eyewitness who filmed the incident told a reporter, "I did a double-take, looked over and sure enough this guy was just, head between his legs completely asleep."
That's how some of us are. We're asleep and don't even know we're asleep. And sometimes the last person to know they're asleep is the one who's sleeping. They don't even realize it.
In the same way, there are Christians today who are spiritually asleep at the wheel instead of walking in the Spirit. They're lethargic, passive, and even lazy spiritually.
Encyclopedia Britannica describes sleep this way: "A normal, reversible, recurrent state of reduced responsiveness to external stimulation that is accompanied by complex and predictable changes in physiology."
The apostle Paul had some words of warning for believers whose spiritual lethargy and laziness made them appear and act as though they had no spiritual lives. He wrote, "This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed" (Romans 13:11 NLT).
These words may have more relevance to an older believer than a younger believer because when you're a new Christian, you're full of energy. You want to do things for God. You want to read the Bible, go to church, and share your faith. You want to change the world.
In contrast, older believers sometimes want to take a spiritual nap. If that describes you then it's time to wake up. It's time for you to wake from your state of spiritual sleep.
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