Persecution: Advent Day Four

Daily Office Readings: Isaiah 2: 1-4, 1 Thessalonians 2: 13-20, Luke 20:19-26

A voice of Hope.

When people are perscuted and/or ridiculed don't you think it is their hope that keeps them going? I think of the apostle Paul and all the time he was in prison for what he believed and he remained hopeful in is faith.

In today's reading from Thessalonians we are reminded of how discouraging persecution is especially when it comes from your own people.

"And then dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way you imitated the believer's in God's churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews." 1Thessalonians 2:14

Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever faced opposition , disapproval and ridicule from your neighbors, friends, and even your family because of your faith? Are you like some of the Thessalonians in todays' reading who began to question their own faith upon persecution? Really.....how could God let this happen? You love Him, try your best to live a good and godly life...then WHAM..things get uncomfortable and rocky. Of course they do. Trials are part of God's plan for us, they build character, perserverance, sensitivity towards other who face troubles. I always reflect back to Romans 5: 1-5 when I think of this or am faced with this in my own life.

"Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." Romans 5:1-5

Difficulties are unavoidable for God's people. This is everywhere in the Bible. The Hope is in the rest of the story and how we overcome our difficulties with the life changing power of the Holy Spirit, remembering to notice the good things that come our way and share the Good News with someone else - a family member, a friend, a coworker, or even a stranger.

Can you be like the apostle Paul this Advent? Faithful, bold with a voice of hope? Are you willing to possibly face persecution and ridicule in delivering the Advent message to someone today who may be oppossed to the Good News? Perhaps a stranger? a friend? your children? your spouse? your boss?

I am ready. I think I will take one for the team.

Namaste'
Maureen