You Will Suffer – October 31, 2019

Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.
2 Timothy 1:8,9

You Will Suffer

It’s Reformation Day! Other holidays are being celebrated today around the world, but for the next few moments, we will concentrate on Reformation Day.

October 31st is the day over 500 years ago when a German man named Martin Luther nailed a sheet of paper to a church door in the city of Wittenberg. The piece of paper invited people to debate what the Bible said about a number of religious topics.

Some of the positions that Martin Luther took in that invitation to debate were not real popular. He talked about repentance and forgiveness through faith in Jesus rather than through traditions of the church. He noted that some religious leaders of his day offered a false peace, while real peace was found only through Jesus. He said that God saved us because of grace, not because of our own good works. He insisted that God wants us to live holy everyday lives, and we don’t need to have a special position in the church to do that.

Holding to those truths of the Bible got Martin Luther excommunicated from his church and declared an outlaw by his government. But he was not ashamed of the gospel. He continued to teach and preach what the Bible said, and people around the world called for reform of the church. That’s why it’s Reformation Day!

Will you suffer today if you insist that Jesus is the only way to heaven? People are going to call you intolerant. Will you suffer if you insist that holiness comes through faith in Jesus and not through the traditions of a church? There are people injured and dying today somewhere in the world because they dare to confess that.

Do not be ashamed of those who suffer. Join with them in confessing the truth. You’ll suffer, but God will provide his power, and it will be worth it.

Prayer:
Lord God, be my mighty fortress when I suffer for speaking your truth. Amen.