WEEKLY DEVOTIONALS – 2011
The Bible – Absolute Truth – Week 30 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35
Persecution comes in many forms. The Apostle Paul was told by God that he would suffer for Christ. The Lord instructed Ananias in Acts 9:15-16:
Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.
Throughout history we see persecution at work among people of every faith. For the Christian, the persecution is for THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. For others it is persecution for a lie. The Bible lays out the history of mankind and the God who created, and is redeeming, those who believe. The Old Testament teaches the history and formation of the Nation of Israel for the purpose of bringing forth the Messiah of Promise (Genesis 3:15). The New Testament introduces the God-Man Jesus and the Gift of Salvation through the Blood Sacrifice of Jesus the Messiah. The Church was born, and the vision of John in Revelation tells us the future to come. The Bible is the Final Word:
I testify to everyone who hears the word of the Prophecy of this Book; if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this Book….Revelation 22:18
I realize that this brief history lesson is not new to many of us. But it is essential to know what we believe as we walk through history from AD 200 through the year of our Lord 2011. We will see the Life and Light, the Power and Proof of Absolute Truth in Christ as lived out in so many Christian men and women who indeed were, and are, TRUTHBEARERS for His Name Sake!
THOUGHTS TO PONDER THIS WEEK
Polycarp demonstrated peace with God through Christ in his martyrdom. He stood firm in his faith ‘till the end (beginning).
- How does Romans 8:35 relate to your life?
- From the Bible, with whom can you relate?
- Tribulation, distress, persecution - are any of these part of your life today?
- Have you been challenged by someone who is believing a lie?
- If so, what are you doing about it?
Sandy Davis, for the team at Women In Discipleship (sm) womenindiscipleship.org – P.O. Box 694, Goldenrod, FL, 32733 – (407) 325-2986
|