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April 16, 2009
What Has Your Faith Cost You?
Are you prepared to be hated because of your commitment to Jesus Christ? Perhaps you expect to be misunderstood occasionally or even chided by associates for “going overboard” on religion. But Jesus used strong words in John 15:18-25: “hate” and “persecute.” He indicated that our true commitments will be made clear when they start to cost us something.
What has your faith cost you; promotion or some other career opportunity, criticism or even ostracism by coworkers or family, legal action, or nothing at all? Sooner or later, following Christ has a cost, and those who think they can get by without paying it are misguided. In fact, if there’s no cost, is there really any genuine commitment? Jesus’ words suggest not.
However, it’s also possible for our actions or words to cause offense because they are inappropriate. In that case, the hostility we may receive is not persecution. Like Jesus (1:14), we are called to be people of grace and truth, not obnoxious and rude. True persecution involves unmerited hostility for doing good works in the pattern of Christ (1Pet. 2:12-21.)
For the kingdom,
City Bible Business Ministry
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