Weekly Devotion

By KCBI General Manager Mike Tirone

February 6, 2012

Expect Opposition

As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to expect opposition and persecution. If we are genuine believers living for Christ, we should expect trials. Don’t miss that! It’s inevitable, and we should expect it. The closer we get to God’s will and the more we take a stand for His truth, the opposition will increase.

Robert Jeffress, the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, said on his program, Pathway to Victory, “The passion of your conviction will determine the intensity of your persecution.” Expect opposition and don’t think something strange is happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12-13 says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to (key) test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.”

How do we rejoice when we are facing a severe trial? We keep our eyes on Christ and trust Him with the trial. We pray and ask Him for His strength to endure. We rejoice because we are certain that this present suffering will be replaced with indescribable joy when God rewards us for standing firm.

Are you facing intense persecution? Do you feel like giving up? Are you complaining to God about it? God allows persecution in our lives so we can grow. God has a perfect design for these tests. I would be a hypocrite if I told you that I rejoice every time a trial comes my way. Many of us give up or walk away or even think about turning back to our sinful ways. I’m praying for you to stand firm so you can pass this test and allow the Lord to mold you during this season of refinement.

When we keep our eyes on the eternal we can persevere through every trial. When the hand of God is on your life, you will have seasons of suffering. Suffering proves our salvation is authentic. During His time on earth, even Jesus cried out to God to save Him from suffering, but God had a purpose in what He allowed His Son to endure. As we read in Hebrews 5:8, “Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered.” During trials, we must stay close to God and pray for His help.

Remember, it is His power, His strength, and His endurance that will bring us through the suffering. Passing each test makes us more like Christ.

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