The Daily Voice - January 17

The Daily Voice - January 17

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conqueror through Him that loved us!"

Apostle Paul, talking about all the affliction and trouble he went through, confidently declares that he is victorious even in defeat and humiliation and death because the love of Christ which is within him. He writes, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword? … For Your sake,” for Jesus’ name sake, “we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

The early Christian community suffered severe persecution, some 10 major waves of Roman persecution during Christianity’s first 300 years, besides that which was stirred up by the jealous Jewish religionists. In many countries today Christians suffer severe persecution and even death for their faith. Think of China, North Korea, northern Nigeria, Iran, Pakistan, the other Muslim countries. Some are stricter than others, but in many of those countries converting to Christianity is prohibited and punishable by death.

Apostle Paul mentions some of his trials: “In stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned (and left for dead), thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day in the deep; in journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness.”

Jesus promised us that if we faithfully followed in His steps, we would suffer persecution. “If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you… But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.” “They shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and you shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake. … But he that endures unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Both Jesus and Apostle Paul have promised that all that will godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. However, Jesus has also promised that He would be with us through the persecution and stand by our side. He said, “And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” He said, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. … “In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus overcame the world and the terrible persecution He endured. He promises to help us in our moment of affliction whatever it may be. He says, “Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; … be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.” “He that overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.”

“He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment.” The white raiment is the righteousness of the saints, the righteousness that has been imputed unto us who believe, because of our faith and obedience to Jesus Christ. “And I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.”

“Because you have kept the word of My patience,” in other words, you faithfully followed God’s word, believing it and obeying it, “I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly:” or suddenly, when you least expect it. “Hold that fast which you have, that no man takes your crown.” 

We’ve got to hold onto to our faith, and endure unto the end to be overcomers, but Jesus promises to give us overcoming faith in the face of every difficulty we may encounter. Hold on!

To go to a study on Psalm 17