Mocked for Faith

October 13

(Psalm 119:49-52 NIV) “Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. {50} My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. {51} The arrogant mock me without restraint, but I do not turn from your law. {52} I remember your ancient laws, O Lord, and I find comfort in them.”

(Luke 18:29-33 NIV) ““I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God {30} will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life." {31} Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. {32} He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. {33} On the third day he will rise again.””

Those with deep faith in God have always been in the minority here on Earth. From the days of Abel to the days of David, from the days of Jesus to this present day, those who trust, worship, and honor God have been criticized, ostracized, and killed. If your hope lies in God rather than the current power structure, you will be suspect and labeled somewhere between strange and seditious. If you take God’s word seriously and openly follow Jesus as Lord and Savior, you will likely have more enemies than friends. If you stand up for the faith that has saved millions down through the ages, you will be mocked without restraint -- you may even be spit on, beaten, and killed. Our comfort lies in knowing that in the age to come, an eternity of joy awaits those who persevere. The world will continue to descend into disorder, despotism, and decadence. The faithful will rise again. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day