“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “–Matthew 5:10

The closer we get to Christ the more often we’ll be faced with opposition on every level

Everyday we are forced to make choices; choices that can affect our own lives and the lives of those around us. The closer we get to Christ the more often we’ll be faced with opposition on every level. The closer we get to Him, the more we’ll hear from Him and become like Him, and the more we’ll act on what we receive from Him. The more we become like Him the more we’ll stand out, and the more opposition we’ll receive.

Last year, the church that my family and I had become a part of and had helped found in the previous years, went through a really “bumpy” period. The pastor, along with various members of the church, began to base the entirety of the church on man’s tradition and understanding, rather than the Bible and God’s leading. After a series of meetings, things got really messy. God’s Word was ignored and called “irrelevant”, and convictions that had been set in place by the church planters were thrown out the window. We were forced to do one of two things: accept the new form of leadership and new direction for the church (and the loss of conviction and morals required by God in His word) or leave what we had worked so hard to establish over the last few years along with our various friends and new converts, trusting God for the future – no matter what it might hold.

Be careful of those choices that at first seem small and insignificant…

Throughout the thickest and hardest periods of the whole struggle that the church went through, we were forced to make tough decision after tough decision; decisions that at that time did not seem to be so wrong, or didn’t seem like they would have lasting affects or serious consequences. However, if we are willing to give in on the things that appear small and insignificant, who is to say we will not cave in when it comes to the bigger and more crucial issues we face from day to day? Those were the hardest choices I’ve had to make, the hardest times for me as a believer, and the most trying times for my faith. It was during these struggles that I really began to better understand Christ, to see His hand even in the midst of difficulty. I began to better understand what prayer was really meant to be, and how without constant fellowship with the Father I would fail, and would begin to conform to man’s opinion. It took spending day after day on my knees taking each situation to Jesus, and trusting Him for everything, every step of the way.

So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” – Acts 4:18-20

Peter and John were faced with a choice; a choice similar to the various choices we are all faced with on a daily basis. As followers of Christ we are to be examples of Him. We cannot begin to falter on the convictions we may deem insignificant or inconsequential; “tiny compromises have big consequences”. Will we cave in to the desires of man, even when they go against the truths presented in the Word of God, against the desires of Christ Himself?

View every opposition to your morals as an opportunity to be a living example of Christ and not default to man’s opinion, but remain steadfast in your walk as a child of the King!

Press on!

-Adam