relationships (Matthew 10:21-23) We Have Choices

(Matthew 10:21-23)

21 “Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

23 “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

We might say that we live in odd times, but, we have always lived in odd times.  Some eras are odder than others.  And currently in our countries, for over a decade, there has been a large force at work to silence and remove Christians and Jews.  This comes from radical groups that have somehow banded together and somehow have convinced quite a few Americans, Canadians and Europeans that Jews and Christians are the enemies to democracy, law and order, civility, equality, and freedom of speech and belief - MEANWHILE - the radical groups are actually the ones who are against all of these things in their attempts to gain control!

There's a Canadian group trying to ban certain Bible verses.  A U.S. governor tried to ban the entire Bible!  In the U.K., Christians have been arrested for silently praying in their homes, because they lived in close vicinity to abortion clinics.  Churches all over the world are under attacked.  In countries that are communist, and in countries run by terrorist regimes, Christians literally are thrown into prison for life, tortured and or killed.  Well... these dictators will even massacre their own people, even if there's only a hint or suspicious threat of them stepping out of line.  

Violence is clearly on the rise.  Police officers and their spouses and children, are receiving death threats, and have been attacked.  If someone doesn't like what someone else stands for, they feel entitled to kill them, like with the Luigi Mangione case.  And... we just saw the assassination of Charlie Kirk!  Why?  Because he was simply trying to encourage young adults to freely get together and discuss topics to see that we can hear opposing viewpoints to gain understanding, and see that we don't necessarily have to hate or fear each other.

A young man, who was being interviewed, was asked why so many young adults have been flocking to the church and becoming Christians.  His reply was, "It takes a great evil to move an entire generation of people towards the Lord."  In this world of hatred, fear, divisiveness, unreasonable idealisms, and rampant unfair criticisms, people have realized that what is missing in their lives is grace!

While we are to demonstrate love and grace to all of those around us, the Lord tells us here that we do not have to remain in unhealthy situations of persecution.  These situations will happen, and in those times, we are to continue looking to the Lord, and leaning on Him for His strength, love and wisdom to sort through these things.  Then, along the way, seeds of hope and the gospel message will be sown.  But it is clear that the Lord does not want us to place ourselves into those circumstances!  

All the more reason and evidence of why we should choose to date and marry another Christian!  It is also an extremely strong reason why we should choose to make other steadfast Christians our close friends and mentors!  All the more reason to embrace the love and grace of the Lord, and see that it is good!