A Rough Road – But it's the only road to take.

We – most of us – want to be loved, or at the very least liked. Respected by others, accepted by others. Most of us base our self-esteem on what others think of us. When we're young we believe the whole world revolves around us. Our parents attend our every need, we cry, they come running. They adore and marvel over our first word, our first step. If we have no siblings, we might have this security and belief for quite some time.

Then we hit Kindergarten. Suddenly it's scary, suddenly we're competing, competing for attention, love and acceptance by the crowd. We're not the center anymore, we begin to realize it's dangerous to be too different, it's too scary, it's too lonely. As time goes on, we begin to conform to the group, the crowd, the world, if you will, on a small scale. It isn't necessarily a bad thing in itself, it's one way we learn to get along with others. But we begin to modify our behavior and beliefs because we learn the pain of standing out from the others. And we've all heard the saying "Kids can be cruel" and most of us know the truth of that saying.

It doesn't get any better when the teenage years roll around. Kids frantically want to fit in, buying the latest Nike shoes or a certain brand of clothes, just to be considered cool by the other kids. We desperately want to fit in then, to not appear to be different. If we're poor, perhaps we're ashamed of our homes, or our 2nd hand clothes, and we try to hide these things from our friends. Sometimes we modify or even hide our beliefs because we don't want to be shunned or laughed at or mocked by those around us. We just want to blend in, to belong. Clothing, hairstyles, lifestyles.

The point is, we suffer forms of persecution at an early age, and we learn to modify our behaviour to avoid it. We learn, if you go against the norm, you will feel the pain of persecution. I'm not even talking about religious beliefs yet – the World will persecute it's own when they deviate from what's considered "normal". We learn this early and carry it with us most of our lives. Some of us are stronger than others, but most of us, indeed all of us, usually bend under this weight of persecution, perceived or otherwise.

How much more against Worldly Things can you be than when you try to follow Christ? It is literally a slap in the face to the world. And the World cannot stand it. We should not be surprised by this, we should expect it - - The Bible is full of examples of this and speaks of this in many places. How does the world feel about those who would follow Jesus. Sometimes we feel the hatred of the world:

Proverbs 29:10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.

Proverbs 29:27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

Sometimes we feel the scorn of the world:

2nd Samuel 6:16 And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

2nd Samuel 6:20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

But David didn't let her scorn make him feel ashamed – he rebuked her and rightly so! But David did feel the persecution, as noted in

Psalm 11:2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

Persecution abounds in the bible - - All of the apostles suffered great persecution – and what better example than the persecution of Jesus himself?

Matthew 20:18-19 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

And it happened.

If he was so persecuted, why do we think we won't be, when we follow him? And he warned us of it:

Matthew 10:16-18 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

Matthew 10:22-25 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Also John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Persecution isn't fun, but is it something we should look forward to, certainly expect? I have been guilty often of looking at the future with some resignation and depression thinking to myself, "Is this what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life by following God?"

Well John 17:14-18 clarifies this some. Notice that Jesus has sent us into the world, as God has sent him into the world. We are not of the world!

John 17:14-18 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

And as to how to respond and handle some of that persecution, I have, among other verses,

Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

As well as

Matthew 10:17-20 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

And certainly Jesus has other words for us to help us keep our perspective when we fear men and persecution too much.

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Of course, if we did not have God helping us and strengthening us every step of the way, we could never endure such persecution. If you are a Christian and you don't feel persecution, I beg you to re-evaluate what you are doing. If no-one knows you're a Christian, then wake up now! To bring people to Christ, you need to let them know of Christ and the change he has made in your life. And as you do this, some will listen, but many will not. So certainly anyone who is spreading the gospel will feel persecution! Christ himself warned us of this over and over. Christ, who gave us this warning and promise, and I will end with these verses.

John 12:25-26 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

HIM WILL MY FATHER HONOUR. I can't think of a greater motivation to the true believer!! Can You?