How often do you see or hear an ad for something that sounds enticing until you learn the price? I sometimes try out different organic mouthwashes to keep my gums in good shape, but when I shop online, the price is way, way down at the bottom of the page or not even shown until I put the item in my cart. The only reason I do that is to see the price. Some things are just not worth their price. I like the idea of buying a new car, a sofa, new dining room chairs…until I see their prices. Now, I’m content to keep what I have. However, when I find a mouthwash that has specific ingredients to heal my gums, it is definitely worth paying a high price. Even the horrible, no good, very bad taste is worth hearing my dentist tell me that my gum health has improved tremendously. The free gospel of Jesus Christ has no initial cost, yet sometimes we pay a great price for our faith—if—and only if we embrace Christ wholeheartedly. Then, we may find ourselves in a position where we will be questioned, mocked, and maybe even harassed for our faith, as Jesus was. All the more if we proclaim the gospel faithfully and publically—even when doing Bible study with others or teaching. Our best response is to pray for courage and faith to proclaim the gospel whenever and wherever God gives us the opportunity and guidance through the Holy Spirit. We may not be as bold as Peter and John when they were arrested and interrogated for their gospel proclamation, but they are a good model for us. (See Acts 4:5-21.)
Models of Faith and Courage
Paul’s and Barnabas’s missionary work can also encourage us. “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples…” (Acts 14:19-21) “The same crowd that days before was ready to worship Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as Hermes stoned Paul, dragged him outside the city, and left him for dead. What fickle people these were! Yet they were no different from people in our time. People are always fickle until God brings true stability into their lives through the gospel. If anything of any permanence is to happen, if lives are to be changed, if the seed of the Word is to fall into good soil and bear fruit, and do it year after year—it is only going to be by the grace of God. They thought Paul was dead, but he wasn’t. He could have been. Others have died under such circumstances. But God had more for Paul to do, and so he did not die. In the same way, if God has more work for you to do, you won’t die either. God will keep you living until you do it, because the God who has ordained your salvation has also at the same time ordained good works for you to do (Eph. 2:10).” (1) In contrast to Paul and Barnabas, who were stoned, we feel like we’re going to die if someone challenges us to convince them of the gospel’s truth. That’s probably because we think that’s our job—but it’s not! Only the Holy Spirit can change a person’s heart and mind to receive and regard the gospel as truth.
Blessed for Being Righteous
At the very beginning of his ministry, Jesus taught his disciples to expect mistreatment as a result of their faith in the gospel—their faith in him. Do we want to be mocked or ridiculed? Of course not! Do we pray for this? Surely not! But we should pray to be such bold witnesses for Christ that people can’t treat our faith casually. In a recent large meeting, the resident who sat beside me was not well-known to me. But she openly and eagerly talked with me about Christ, initiating the conversation before the meeting started (which had nothing to do with the Bible or ministry). I was pleased that she knew me by my reputation of having taught the Bible for eight years here and preparing to co-lead a Christian grief support group. I have no idea what others seated around us may have thought about our conversation. But I was absolutely blessed, and that kind of blessing carries me through times when other residents belittle my faith and my biblical worldview about topics of conversation, especially about politics right now. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)
The Right Kind of Righteousness
“The persecution Jesus is talking about and for which believers are to ‘rejoice and be glad’ is not the hostility that will come to them from the world because they have made themselves a nuisance, insulted people they are trying to influence, or been rude, crude, or fanatical. It is because they have become like Christ in his righteousness and are therefore being hated for righteousness’ sake, as Jesus was. When Jesus came into the world, he exposed the evil in the world simply by being righteous, and the world hated him for it. Before he came, people could get away with hypocrisy, lying, dishonesty, and pride, because others acted the same way. But when Jesus came, those dark vices were exposed for what they are, just as light always illuminates the darkness. If a Christian lives like Jesus Christ, he or she will be persecuted. But Jesus says that we are to rejoice when that happens. Why? First, persecution shows that we are in the company of those who have been faithful before us, for they too were persecuted: ‘in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’ Second, we have a ‘great…reward in heaven.’ We do not experience much real persecution for the sake of Christ today, at least not in the Western world. But this is something the early Christians understood very well, and believers in many countries that are hostile to Christianity also understand today. Peter understood it, for he refers to this beatitude twice in his first epistle, where he deals with persecution: ‘If you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed’ (1 Peter 3:14) and ‘If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed’ (1 Peter 4:14). Persecution is a common experience for Christians, but it is proof that we belong to Jesus here as well as evidence of those heavenly blessings we will enjoy hereafter.” (2) Christ’s followers will be mocked and harassed for our faith, as Jesus was, if we are true followers, proclaiming the gospel faithfully and publically. Are you (am I) willing to pray for the courage to proclaim the gospel whenever and wherever God gives us the opportunity and guidance through the Holy Spirit?
Hated but Blessed
“And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mark 13:10-13) “The time between Christ’s resurrection and His second coming is not simply a time of suffering and persecution. It is also a time of grace and of evangelism throughout the earth…Readiness to confess Christ is an important aspect of setting apart Christ as Lord. The word [defense] may suggest [the] response to abusive or derisive inquiries from hostile people. Such a response includes an explanation of the main points of Christianity. By their conduct, Christians show that accusations against them are unfounded.” (3) “Believers should always be ready to provide a rationale for their faith, but they should do so winsomely and righteously. And if they keep a good conscience, any accusations against them will prove groundless, and their accusers will be put to shame. It is sometimes God’s will that Christians suffer for doing good.” (4) What’s the gospel worth to you? “In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:15-17)
Related Scripture: Isaiah 49:6b; Matthew 10:21-22; Luke 21:19; John 14:25-26; 15:26-27; 16:13-15; Romans 2:7; 2 Tim. 3:11-15; Hebrews 11:24-26; 1 Peter 2:20-21.
Notes:
1. Boice, James, Boice Expositional Commentary Series, Acts 14, Baker Books, Software version, 1998.
2. Boice Expositional Commentary, Matthew 5:10-12, Ibid.
3. The Reformation Study Bible, Mark 13:10-13; 1 Peter 3:15, Reformation Trust Publishing (Ligonier Ministries), Sanford, Fl., 2015.
4. English Standard Version Study Bible Notes, 1 Peter 3:15, (digital edition), Crossway, 2008.
October 17, 2024
Divine Wisdom for Daily Living by Joanne Colvin 