Sometimes I think that many people, when they read the Bible, read it so quickly they just gloss over everything and never really understand or even catch what they are reading and its true meaning. Like 2 Timothy 3:12, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” Notice the warning here, ALL who desire to live a Godly life WILL BE persecuted.
Now, that doesn’t necesarilly mean that we will be beaten, tortured, or people will try to kill us, although it could come to that, and it does for many Christians around the world. It also means that people will perhaps make fun of us, hate us, unfriend us, or even just completely ignore us. That’s one of the things Jesus Christ was talking about when He said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26) Meaning that sometimes when we truly seek to follow Jesus, it will cost us even the companionship and friendship of our own family members, who for one reason or another aren’t willing to do whatever it costs to follow Him.
Paul tells us one of the things he preached while traveling on his missionary journeys was, “…through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22) Jesus said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). Naturally, we want everyone to like us, and be our friend. However, when it comes to pleasing God and following Him, we must make the right choices, even if it costs us ALL of our friends! “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)
One has only to read the stories of countless Christians in the past who have been tortured, burned at the stake, and died in other ways to see the hatred of the world upon those who TRULY seek to follow Christ. But, that is no reason to give up the fight. Our love for Jesus Christ should be so deep and so real that no matter what it costs us, we desire to know Him more. Even if it costs us everything in this world! How much do YOU love Him?