“Peter began to say to him, ‘See, we have left everything and followed you.'” (ESV – Read the chapter)
What Peter says here is no small thing. Have you left everything and followed Jesus? Have you really left anything to follow Him? What did you leave behind? If you have indeed not left anything behind, there is a rather uncomfortable question you are going to need to answer: Are you really following Jesus? Read the rest…
“Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
Make no mistake: If you are a follower of Jesus, the world hates you just like it hated Him. Now, this doesn’t mean that everyone who isn’t one of His followers as well hates you. You may (and should) have friends who are non-believers, some of whom may be very good friends. But, for anyone who is committed to the ends of the world (the elevation of self and the desires of the flesh above all else), they will hate the ends of the kingdom toward which you are working (the elevation of God and the humiliation of self), a hatred which will eventually be worked out through you.
Persecution should never surprise us as followers of Jesus. If we behave as He did, we will be treated as He was as well. This should be a mark of pride, knowing that we are on the right track.
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
Here is another place where we get realism instead of encouragement. Yet how important is this reminder for those who are following Jesus? If you want to follow Jesus well, you are going to face persecution of some kind. In fact, if you’re not facing at least some amount of persecution, you may want to look at how you’re doing in the faith. Read the rest…
“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
Why did Paul rattle off this list of experiences that by almost any account would make someone conclude that the particular path of life he had chosen was not for them? He was boasting about why he carried the authority to call them to behave in a certain way. If they were going to claim to be followers of Jesus, then he was someone they should listen to in terms of how to do it right. Read the rest…
