Persecuted for Christ's Sake

[devotional at egwlists.whiteestate.org]

-----------------------------------------------
Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for July 6
Visit us at http://www.whiteestate.org
-----------------------------------------------

Persecuted for Christ's Sake

All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2
Tim. 3:12. 


As Christ was hated without cause, so will His people be hated because
they are obedient to the commandments of God. If He who was pure, holy,
and undefiled, who did good and only good in our world, was treated as a
base criminal and condemned to death, His disciples must expect but
similar treatment, however faultless may be their life and blameless
their character. 

Human enactments, laws manufactured by satanic agencies under a plea of
goodness and restriction of evil, will be exalted, while God's holy
commandments are despised and trampled underfoot. And all who prove
their loyalty by obedience to the law of Jehovah must be prepared to be
arrested, to be brought before councils that have not for their standard
the high and holy law of God. 

Those who live during the last days of this earth's history will know
what it means to be persecuted for the truth's sake. In the courts
injustice will prevail. The judges will refuse to listen to the reasons
of those who are loyal to the commandments of God, because they know
that arguments in favor of the fourth commandment are unanswerable. They
will say, "We have a law, and by our law he ought to die." God's law is
nothing to them. "Our law" with them is supreme. Those who respect this
human law will be favored, but those who will not bow to the idol
sabbath will have no favors shown them. 

In summer there is no noticeable difference between evergreens and other
trees; but when the blasts of winter come, the evergreens remain
unchanged, while other trees are stripped of their foliage. So the
falsehearted professor may not now be distinguished from the real
Christian, but the time is just upon us when the difference will be
apparent. Let opposition arise, let bigotry and intolerance again bear
sway, let persecution be kindled, and the halfhearted and hypocritical
will waver and yield the faith; but the true Christian will stand firm
as a rock, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, than in days of
prosperity.

>From Maranatha - Page 195