BEAUTIFY And COLOUR Your WORLDS – Even In PERSECUTION

BEAUTIFY And COLOUR Your WORLDS – Even In PERSECUTION: It’s The MARK of GRACE, GODLINESS And GODLY LIVING!

“Yea, and ALL that will LIVE GODLY in Christ Jesus shall suffer PERSECUTION” 2 Timothy 3:12.

“But let NONE OF YOU SUFFER as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man SUFFER as a Christian, let him NOT BE ASHAMED; but let him GLORIFY God on this behalf” 1 Peter 4:15-16.

For some, the subject of – PERSECUTION, REJECTION, DESPITE, TRIALS – of their FAITH and the SUFFERING for – their FAITH, in Christ Jesus should not be MARRIED together with good deeds that are promised in the GOSPEL; and I have grown to know that the known beautiful and lovely ROSE FLOWERS gives such gracious fragrance, aroma and lovely scent and more, are not without THORNS from where they are plucked to offer as love gesture. It’s because I have bought lots for my dear and lovely sweet wife over time to know it well too.

In same scenario, the Christian FAITH journey is MARKED with PERSECUTION, DESPITE, REJECTION and such like, even in the midst of the GRACIOUSNESSS and GRACEFULNESS and BLESSEDNESS and LOVINGKINDNESS and GOODNESS and ABUNDANCE. So in the midst of God’s BEAUTY and COLOUR, there can be challenging time, PERSECUTION and the SUFFERING for your good FAITH by those who have mistaken, misconstrued and misunderstood you for your FAITH in Christ Jesus stead.

The Scriptures thus indicates that all who might choose GODLY LIVING in this world ahead of the world to come, MUST suffer PERSECUTION – that is, to be persecuted, despite, rejected and such like. 2 Timothy 3:10-12 (Amplified). Meaning, you don’t have to avoid or abandon your glorious and precious FAITH of beauty and colour in Christ Jesus, just because of the PERSECUTION, which many unfortunately have ignored to hold unto and have walked away to avoid been PERSECUTED as such.

The first early DISCIPLES – FOLLOWERS – of Christ Jesus once questioned our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ in this context of their FAITH, in order to ascertain and to know if there is/are any gain in following Christ Jesus stead towards God; Christ Jesus hesitated not to inform them of the GOOD, GOODNESS and REWARD of following the cause and course of the Gospel. And He equally informed them of one major truth – that PERSECUTION is part of the marked set in the following of Him in God to fulfil PURPOSE. Mark 10:28-30; Matthew 5:10-12; Romans 8:28-30.

Apostle Paul, the endowed writer of more than half of the New Testament epistles, did charged, admonished and exhorted in many of His writings, especially the writ in Romans 8:35-39, of the essence of PERSECUTION; and how that should not deter one essence, to get glued to the LOVE of God in Christ Jesus stead. He reckoned that the suffering or challenges that are as a result of PERSECUTION can’t be COMPARED to the GLORY to be REVEALED in us all who draw not back – that is, back away from our continual FAITH in following the cause of God in Christ Jesus.

“For I reckon that the SUFFERINGS of this PRESENT TIME are not WORTHY to be COMPARED with the GLORY which shall be REVEALED in us” Romans 8:18.

I urge you TODAY and NOW, to keep holding on steadfastly in the FAITH of God in Christ Jesus stead no matter what does appear to challenge your FAITH and all you seem to be going through at present, in LIFE and GRACE in Christ Jesus stead. I will cautioned in the light of Apostle Peter epistle, that when you do suffer in PERSECUTION as if you an evil DOER when you are not, do REJOICE in Christ Jesus for such is of the Kingdom of God. Meaning, let it not be that your suffering acclaimed as PERSECUTION is not what you’ve CREATED out and or caused of your self doing as an EVIL DOER – for that WORTH no benefit at all in Christ Jesus stead. 1 Peter 4:15-16; 1 Peter 3:13-18; 1 Peter 2:19-23.

SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK.

SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:

“But let NONE OF YOU SUFFER as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man SUFFER as a Christian, let him NOT BE ASHAMED; but let him glorify God on this behalf” 1 Peter 4:15-16.

“And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye SUFFER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE, HAPPY ARE YE: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that FALSELY ACCUSE YOUR GOOD CONVERSATION (CONDUCT) in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, THAT YE SUFFER FOR WELL DOING, THAN FOR EVIL DOING. 18 For Christ also hath once SUFFERED for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” 1 Peter 3:13-18 (Emphasis Mine).

“For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, SUFFERING WRONGFULLY. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 FOR EVEN HEREUNTO WERE YE CALLED: because Christ also SUFFERED for us, LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE, that ye should FOLLOW HIS STEPS: 22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; WHEN HE SUFFERED, HE THREATENED NOT; but COMMITTED himself to him that JUDGETH RIGHTEOUSLY” 1 Peter 2:19-23.

“Now you have diligently followed [my example, that is] my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, 11 PERSECUTIONS, and SUFFERINGS—such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, but the Lord rescued me from them all! 12 Indeed, all who delight in pursuing righteousness and are DETERMINED TO LIVE GODLY LIVES in Christ Jesus will be HUNTED AND PERSECUTED [because of their faith]” 2 Timothy 3:10-12 Amplified.

“Peter started saying to Him, “Look, we have given up everything and followed You [becoming Your disciples and accepting You as Teacher and Lord].” 29 Jesus said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there is no one who has given up a house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30 who will not receive a hundred times as much now in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms—along with PERSECUTIONS; and in the age to come, eternal life” Mark 10:28-30 Amplified.

“Blessed are they which are PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall REVILE you, and PERSECUTE you, and shall say all manner of EVIL AGAINST YOU FALSELY, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” Matthew 5:10-12.

“Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 9 WHEREIN I SUFFER TROUBLE, AS AN EVIL DOER, EVEN UNTO BONDS; BUT THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT BOUND. 10 Therefore I ENDURE all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” 2 Timothy 2:8-10.

“Who shall SEPARATE us from the love of Christ? shall TRIBULATION, or DISTRESS, or PERSECUTION, or FAMINE, or NAKEDNESS, or PERIL, or SWORD? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to SEPARATE us from the LOVE of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:35-39.

“Let us HOLD FAST the profession of our FAITH WITHOUT WAVERING; (for he is faithful that promised;) . . .35 CAST NOT AWAY THEREFORE YOUR CONFIDENCE, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 BUT WE ARE NOT OF THEM WHO DRAW BACK UNTO PERDITION; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” Hebrews 10:23, 35-39.

“Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. 12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; ONLY LEST THEY SHOULD SUFFER PERSECUTION FOR THE CROSS OF CHRIST. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision AVAILETH any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God” Galatians 6:11-16.

REV. CHUKIE MORSI