Category: Devotions

William MacDonald said well, “But this delight in vengeance should have no place in the lives of those who have been redeemed. Instead, they should act honourably in the face of abuse and injury, as in all the circumstances of life. To have regard means to take thought for or be careful to do.” Take care to keep your Christian testimony before God and men in the face of persecution. Let the Christian’s response be seasoned with charity.

Our Lord forbids an unforgiving and revengeful spirit, by being quick to take offence, retaliating, having a quarrelsome and contentious demeanour, a keenness to assert one’s right, is contrary to the mind of Christ. The world may be at peace with such attitudes but our Lord says “ye resist not evil.” But rather, you are to have a spirit of universal love and charity. You should put away all such malice.

William MacDonald said well, “We should avoid any trace of snobbishness and should be as outgoing toward humble, lowly folk as toward those of wealth and position. When an illustrious Christian arrived at the terminal he was met by leaders from the church where he was to speak. The limousine pulled up to take him to a plush hotel. “Who usually entertains visiting preachers here?” he asked. They mentioned an elderly couple in a modest home nearby. “That’s where I would prefer to stay,” he said. Again, the apostle warns against a believer being wise in his own opinion. The realization that we have nothing that we did not receive should keep us from an inflated ego”.

What is this mind that we are to have one toward another? This is the mind of Christ undergirded by God’s love articulated well by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 2:1-3 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

It is during these times of affliction that a friend proves himself a brother. To be there rendering comfort and support, to be there to render whatever needful practical help. Sometimes, one’s presence speaks comfort and encouragement more than any good word spoken. It does mean sacrificing some of our time, energy, and resources for our leisure and even sleep.

The Christian shares the joys and woes of fellow Christians. When one in the body of Christ is afflicted, the rest of the people of God feels the pain of that brother and sister in Christ. The rest supports in whatever way would encourage and strengthen the faith of such an afflicted or happy one.

To be “persecuted for righteousness’ sake” is to be persecuted for standing firm in obedience to God’s Word. There was a brother-in-Christ whose work required him to submit bids to secure projects for his company. One day, the boss of his company gave him a photostated copy of his competitor’s bid and asked him to use it to secure the tender. He would just have to bid slightly higher than his competitor’s bid and he would have won the project. But he did not! He had to resign from his company for his own testimony’s sake.

D. L. Moody saw that the blessedness of trials was a heart of rejoicing when he observed, “Happiness is caused by things that happen around me, and circumstances will mar it; but joy flows right on through trouble; joy flows on through the dark; joy flows on through persecution and opposition. It is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the heart; a secret spring the world can’t see and doesn’t know anything about. The Lord gives his people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to him.” This is the comfort of every persecuted saint. The Lord is with you, press on!

There is a woman living in Shunem described in 2 Kings 4:8 as “great”, 8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. Possibly she was greatly endowed with material wealth. But I believe this is a spiritual attribute that is accorded to her. She provided hospitality in her home for God’s prophet Elisha. She invited Elisha to her home provided needful food for the travelling prophet. Elisha obliged. She can see that Elisha was a holy man of God. She discussed with her husband to make an extra room in the house to provide shelter to Elisha whenever he would pass by their way. God blessed her with a son, opening her barren womb.

Acts 20:35 “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

The blessing of giving has to be experienced. How can we understand this truth except through the exercise of faith in our giving? We are to support the weak, those who are unable to return our favour, those who are truly in need. We have to take God at His Word to give and experience God’s blessing. When we give, we lose what we have given, how can it be more blessed? We are to take Jesus at His Word, obey and behold His glory in our lives in our giving.