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Topic: Endure Persecutions and Trials
[DCLM Daily Manna 27 October 2018 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: 1 Peter 4:12-19 (KJV)
Key Verse: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you“ (1 Peter 4:12).
MESSAGE:
Christians are counselled on how to comport themselves whenever they are tried for their precious faith. Believers’ relationship with Christ will definitely make them to suffer the hatred, opposition, reproaches and sufferings of Christ, just as they will partake in His glory, if they endure to the end.
The text for today encourages believers to be glad and joyful whenever they suffer for Christ’s sake, as this brings a clear assurance that they are the children of God. Persecutions should therefore be borne by Christians with patience, fortitude and full dependence on the promises of God and support of the Holy Spirit. That a Christian is facing persecution does not mean he or she has committed a sin.
Believers are therefore forewarned not to allow their persecution to be on account of their sins or violation of constitutional laws. If so-called believers fail to make heaven because of their inability to endure sufferings brought upon them by their persecuting neighbours, how much more will it be for the enemies of God, the sinners in hell forever. If sufferings brought upon believers by the persecutors as trials and tribulations are not easy to be borne, how awful will the day of judgment be for the sinners who outrightly reject God’s plan for their salvation?
In other words, if the way of the righteous is so hard, how terrible then will be the end of the ungodly and unrepentant sinners, who operate in sin with joy and think the believers are fools for patiently bearing their pains and for sometimes facing reproachful and shameful death without a just cause. This is the needful caution for sinners to repent of their sins before it is too late.
Thought For The Day: Christians’ persecutions are light pains that bring large gains.
Bible Reading In One Year: Luke 14-15
