Wishing Ken a happy birthday, this week.  Kids are getting too old, grandchildren growing even faster, don’t feel like I am that old.

Looking out the window and seeing blue skies with a few cotton clouds.  Looks like at least one orchard is trying to bud out, that may not be good.  We shall see.

Got a squirrel in the elm tree.  Saw her taking some nesting material up there.  We haven’t had one in several years, the cats usually take care of them, not sure how this one has survived.  ‘course the cats are getting a bit older and not as fast or adventurous as they once were.

Trust all is going well in your neck of the woods, know those of you on the east coast are still trying to shovel your way out of the house – wish we had some of that our way.  Take care of yourselves.

Mathew 5:10-12  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Open persecution is difficult for a Christian, open criticism and attacks can also strengthen the resolve a Christian and those that gather with him.  When satan sees that resolve and sees that the Christian is serving as an example to others, he uses other means to persecute him.

Satan works in ways that are devious and using a great deal of subterfuge.  He will start a behind the scenes whisper campaign, using those that dislike the Christian or his message to spread gossip and lies about him.

These people rarely confront or come to the Christian with their criticism; they just besmirch them behind their backs.  Often they do not approach other Christians or friends, knowing that the word might get back to him before they are ready.

Psalm 64:1-3 Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

² Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

³ Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

They conspire with others to attack the Christian and build false testimony, or rules, regulations, policies or laws that will force the Christian to either capitulate or break those laws and suffer the consequences.

Ester 3:8-9 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.

⁹ If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.

Haman was the instigator against Mordecai and the rest of the Jews at that time, because Mordecai refused to bow down to him.  Haman duped the King into making a decree whereby all Jews were to be slain. 

But God had other plans and they had been in place for some time, Haman ended up being hung in the gallows that he had built for Mordecai.

Mark 3:6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

And of course when Jesus challenged the leadership of the Jews and answered their questions – turning it back on them they conspired against Him.  The end result was the death of Christ.

While they thought it would be done and over, they had no idea that their actions would provide salvation to all that would come to Christ.  Instead of being victorious over Christ, He was triumphant over them and death and God prevailed.

As Christians we cannot control the thoughts or actions of others.  If they have a will to try and destroy us they will conspire with satan and his other minions to do so.  They will work in secret, perhaps using our vulnerabilities to tempt us, trying to make us sin and thus be able to point out our frailties, calling us hypocrites. 

They undermine us and try and dissuade others from listening to us or believing what we say.  While they attack us their real target is God Himself, believing that by waylaying His children they can discredit Him, His Word and thus His very existence.

He will try and make us look foolish in the eyes of man.  He will (and does) try to show that those who believe in God’s Word or simpletons, men and women who are superstitious and stupid because they do not believe as the world believes, they cling to God and His Word which they have condemned.

With the barrage of lies and the slings of the arrows of hatred of God Christian beliefs are being attacked all over the world.  Some people are afraid to speak up – not due to physical abuse or even death – but because the abuse causes them embarrassment.  They are insulted and put up to ridicule, so they hide their faith in Christ.

We face many people who have an agenda to ‘prove’ there is no God and ‘prove’ that those that believe in Him are fools.  Many are smarter than us, or better prepared with their agenda than we are in the Word of God.  Sometimes we think we have failed in defending our beliefs, but we should never hang our head in shame for standing up for Christ.

But we shouldn’t be shamed into hiding our faith.  We should stand as a beacon for God and His Grace.  We don’t have to stand on a soap box in the middle of town and shout – but we do need to never back down on our convictions and stand up for His Word.

1 Peter 4:16  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

I am reminded of a story about a believer who was praising God for the deliverance of the Jews as God parted the sea so Moses could lead them through on dry ground.

He was confronted by a scoffer who told him he was foolish, at the time and place they went through the sea it was but a few inches deep.

The believer again praised the Lord.   The scoffer said, didn’t you listen to what I just told you?

The believer said, I am praising the Lord because He removed the wheels from the chariots and drowned Pharaoh and him men in just a few inches of water!

We may not be that quick in mind – but it doesn’t matter, God will use us to proclaim the truth of His Word, we but have to follow His guidance.

Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

God has a plan for all things.  He did so with Ester and Mordecai, with Daniel, with David, with Paul and most importantly with Jesus Christ.  His Word is full of examples of His fore-knowledge and planning of events to come and the triumph of Him over satan.

There are many examples in our own lifetime that show through the persecution of Christians He will prevail.  We but have to look around to see it.

We cannot fight rumors, gossip or outright lies from conspirators behind our backs.  It is difficult to stand up to bullies that berate us for our beliefs.  They often are loud, sarcastic, in position of power and may even be smarter than we are using their intellect to try and throw us off.  They may even use verses out of context to challenge our beliefs.

But in standing for Christ we can demonstrate our commitment to Him.  Christ didn’t say anything as His accusers brought false witnesses against Him, He stood there and took it ‘on the chin.’  But when the time was right He confronted them and made His statements knowing that in doing so it would lead to His death.

If we ask God to provide guidance through His Holy Spirit and call upon the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom in what every situation we find ourselves.   We are not alone, we do not have to rely on our own will or spirit, Christ and His precious Holy Spirit are with us.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

⁵ Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

⁶ Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Mathew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Later,

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again