SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6/11/2020 10:11 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-1 “False Accusation”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Matt.
5:10-12
Message of the verses: “10 “Blessed are
those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute
you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice
and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they
persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Today
we begin the third sub-section “False Accusation.” Faithfulness to Christ will bring enemies of
the gospel who will “say all kinds of evil against” (us) “falsely.” What we saw in insults were that they are
abusive words said to our faces, but these evil things are primarily abusive
words that are said behind our backs.
There
is an example of this which was said about Jesus as His critics said “Behold, a
gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gathers and sinners.” Now if the world said this and things like it
about the sinless Savior, what do you think that they will say about believers
today. I once heard a story about one of
the early presidents of the Moody Bible Institute. This man had an enemy who hired a private detective
to follow this man around to find out something that he was doing that was
wrong. The report came back that the detective
had followed this man around for a fairly long time and found nothing
wrong. This president of Moody had great
integrative, which is an example for all of us.
We
can see in our political arena today that many things are said about different
people that are false and this is the hardest thing to defend against than
direct accusation. Not getting too
political but we have spent three years of men spreading lies about our
President and the ones who were spreading the lies are the ones who are now in
trouble. I have heard since I was a
young man that what goes around comes around.
This happens in our lives here on earth, but when it comes to believers
those who spread lies about us will one day stand before God to answer for
their falsehoods.
John
MacArthur quotes Arthur Pink who comments that “it is a strong proof of human
depravity that men’s curses and Christ’s blessings should meet on the same
persons.” MacArthur then adds “We have
no surer evidence of the Lord’s blessing than to be cursed for His sake. It should not seriously bother us when men’s curses fall on the head
that Christ has eternally blessed.”
As
we look at the Beatitudes we can see that the central theme is that the
Beatitudes are righteousness. We have
seen that the first two have to do with recognizing our own righteousness, and
then the next five have to do with our seeking and reflecting
righteousness. Now as we get to this
last Beatitude we see it has to do with our suffering “for the sake of righteousness.” MacArthur adds “The same truth is expressed
in the second part of the beatitude as ‘on account of Me.’ Jesus is not speaking of every hardship,
problem, or conflict believers may face, but those that the world brings on us
because of our faithfulness to the Lord.”
It
is very clear that the hallmark of the “blessed” person is “righteousness.” When we follow the perfect example of our
Lord who lived a perfect life and as greatly persecuted for it the same will
happen to us. I am not saying that we
all will die for living a righteous life, but some will as some have
already. In this section we can see that
Jesus is not speaking of every hardship, problem or conflict believers may
face, however those that the world brings on us that are because of our
faithfulness to the Lord.
In
Peter’s first letter he identifies such experience as a happy honor:
13 And who is there to harm
you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for
the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR
INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your
hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to
give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered,
those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is
better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right
rather than for doing what is wrong. 18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the
just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been
put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;” (1 Pet. 3:13-18).
MacArthur
adds “With these words, the apostle extols the privilege of suffering for
holiness, and thus of sharing in a small way in the same type of suffering
Christ endured. In the next chapter,
Peter emphasizes the same thing.” We
will now look at some verses from the forth chapter of 1 Peter.
12 Beloved,
do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing
were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that
you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory
you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because
the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you
suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone
suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in
this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of
God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the
outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 AND IF IT IS WITH
DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND
THE SINNER? 19 Therefore,
those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to
a faithful Creator in doing what is right” (1 Peter 4:12-19). (Especially notice verses 12-14, 16, and 19
as their numbers are highlighted.)
Spiritual meaning for my life today: Living righteously can cause problems as
others who see this righteous living will have to face their sin and when that
happens to some unbelievers then they can surely cause trouble.
My Steps of Faith for Today: I desire to live a life that is pleasing to
the Lord and if trouble comes because of that then my prayer is that the Lord
will give me strength to endure what He allows me to go through.
6/11/2020 11:05 AM
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