In the Face of Opposition
We learned through Paul’s life and see throughout the history of the church right up to today, that when God moves His people’s hearts to respond in obedience, opposition is sure to rear its ugly head. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when (cf. Jn. 16:33).
When our backs are up against the wall:
1. Resist the temptation to compromise in a negative way (vs. 1-5)
- God’s Word clearly instructs His people not to compromise His standards (cf. Dt. 5:32-33; Ps. 119:1-4; Jn. 10:27, 14:15)
- Compromise is so dangerous because of the subtle ways it approaches us (cf. 1 Pt. 5:8-9)
- Worshipping the Lord while serving other gods cannot be reconciled with truly belonging to the one true God (cf. Ex. 20:2-6; Isa. 42:8)
- Whenever God’s people decide to do the right thing and live in an uncompromising way, opposition will surely come (cf. Eph. 6:12)
- Discouragement and fear are two primary weapons our enemy will use to keep us from building on God’s faithfulness
We have been delivered from the slave market of sin by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ to go and make disciples, to go into all the world and preach the gospel, to be salt and light, to be Christ’s ambassadors, and to implore people on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God. How are you doing in fulfilling God’s will in these areas? Are you maintaining the purity of your faith or are you tainting it with compromise? Are you in a battle to overcome discouragement and fear in the face of opposition? Remember that Jesus has all authority and that He is always with you (cf. Mt. 28:18, 20b).
2. Resist the temptation to doubt whether or not staying loyal to the Lord is worth it (vs. 6-23)
- Stop presuming that faithfulness to God will make the opposition we face immediately go away (cf. Jn. 15:18-19)
- Faithful followers of Christ should not be surprised when faced with opposition and suffering at the hands of a world that rejects Christ (cf. 2 Tim. 3:10-12a)
- Faithfulness to Christ and to God’s Word is viewed by many today as a form of social and cultural rebellion
In the face of ongoing opposition, is it worth it to stay loyal to Christ, resist compromise, and continue building on God’s faithfulness? Yes! Our King Jesus and our brother Paul answer that question for us: cf. Mt. 5:10-12; Lk. 6:22-23; Mk. 13:13; 2 Cor. 4:7-9, 17-18.
When our backs are up against the wall, let’s build on God’s faithfulness, encourage one another to resist the temptation to compromise in a negative way, and remind each other that staying loyal to the Lord is worth it!
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