1 Timothy 1:18
18This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare
This idea that following Christ’s calling is not a picnic, it’s a war. He’ll keep talking about it in the 2nd letter.
2 Timothy
1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God
2:3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Doesn’t get much clearer than that. So what does that say about those of us who are not at all close to being persecuted or suffering trials for Christ? A brother recently started to confront his own sister whether she was really saved. Maybe not hardcore persecution, but how ‘bout risking just awkward situations? The world loves its own.
Titus 1:10-11
10For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
Philemon 13
13I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel
You know what, Apostle Paul could’ve lived a lot longer if he kept his mouth shut about Jesus, could’ve done more “ministry” even if he turned the volume down once in a while. But he wanted to proclaim Jesus, and Jesus was worth it to Paul.
Hebrews 13:12-13
12So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.
This verse just sends chills down my spine. The Jews wouldn’t crucify Jesus inside the city walls, they didn’t want that trash crucified on their property. So they nailed him to a cross outside the city gates, Golgotha, where the rejects, outcasts and scum live. The writer of Hebrews says, let’s go out there with him, carry the same reproach that he carried. I don’t want to stay inside the city and just blend in, my Lord and saviour hung out there on a cross. I love Jesus. I don’t want to just stay in here and be safe. I want to go out to him, bear the same reproach he bore. I want to go to the cross.
We sing that don’t we? Lead me to the cross? This is what that looks like.
James
1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
2:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Crown of life. The eternal crown. That’s what we’re persevering for, that’s why we live for Jesus. So count it all joy when trials and suffering happens, because we’re on that eternal path.
1 Peter
2:19-21 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
4:12-13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
We’re going to suffer if we follow God. We’re called to follow in Christ’s steps. It’s not just we suffer cause we messed up, everyone gets that. But that we’re called to wrestle with this world for its sake, for the world’s eternity, just as Christ suffered for our sake, for our eternity.
So yeah, don’t freak out when you do good and get garbage in return. Peter says don’t find that weird. We’re called to follow Christ’s example. So rejoice when we get to share in what Christ did, share that glory.
2 Peter 2:2-3
2And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
1 John 3:13
13Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.
John means hates you because you represent Christ, not because you’re just annoying. Lots of times people are pissed at me because I’m a jerk, not because I’m Christian. But to lovingly tell someone “Hey, that’s not what God says about that. And what you’re doing is leading you to an eternity in hell and I don’t want that for you.”
Sometimes we think that the world is just confused, if we just explained Christ to them, they’d love him. And that might be true for some, but there definitely are people who aren’t confused, who know what Christ represents, the love that is also sovereign, and will hate Him for that, hate us for sharing that. To love the world as Christ loved the world. some will hate us for it, we will suffer for it, just as Christ was hated and suffered for it. Don’t be surprised.
3 John 9-10
9I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
Jude 8
8Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.
This persecution will existing inside the church too. People are going to trash those of us who live hard for God’s glory. 3 John is talking about church. Jude is also talking about church, talking about false believers who will infiltrate the church and lead people astray. Some "churched" people will think living hard for God as too radical, too hard core, when they really just mean too inconvenient and too uncomfortable.
They just won’t like it, they won’t like how the glorious ones reminds them of who they really are, of where they’re really at with God. They’ll want to cast out these real Godly people from the church.
Revelation 2:10
10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
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