Day 41

JOHN 20:21

“PEACE BE WITH YOU. AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, EVEN SO I AM SENDING YOU.” 

Jesus was sent from heaven to become a man so that we could have a relationship with God by believing in the Gospel. Now we too, as His followers, are able to dispense the same Gospel. God the Father sent Jesus. Now Jesus sends not only the disciples that physically walked with Him, but He sends us in the same manner with the same message. They would go and so can we as we share this message of life with a lost and dying world. The message is real. The message is needed. The message is sufficient. Thank Him for the message of the Gospel and that you have been able to hear it and trusted enough to carry it as well.

Where has God sent you specifically to live on mission in the world?

Day 40

Read John 15:18 & 1 Peter 4:12-14

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

12 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. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 

As a Jesus follower, we are different from the world we live in. That means the world will not like us because we are different. We see this in the life of Jesus. He was hated and killed by his own people. However, this is not a bad thing. Peter says we should rejoice when we are persecuted because we are actually sharing in Christ’s sufferings and that his glory is being revealed! It is a good thing to be insulted for the name of Jesus. Why’s that? It means that you are displaying Jesus to the world around you. If you are treated badly because of your faith, it is because the world around you can tell that you are a Jesus follower. Persecution has happened since Jesus was on earth and will happen until he returns. If you are being persecuted, stand firm and keep up the good work! God will protect you and give you strength. Jesus has already won the war! Let the words of a widow, who was killed along with her seven sons because of their faith, speak to you. 

“While I live, I shall defeat you; and if you kill me, in my death I shall defeat you all the more.” - Felicitas ~162 A.D.