A positive outlook on our daily circumstances is essential for success. However, if our perception makes no allowance for the ongoing conflict between good and evil and the ultimate triumph of good, we will be disillusioned.
When one becomes a follower of Jesus and ceases to do the things that worldly friends are doing, these friends will often feel guilty about their own evil ways. At that point they have a choice: either respond to the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin and repent or react to God’s standards demonstrated in the believer’s life.
Peter describes this conflict by stating that worldly friends will “think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you” (I Peter 4:4). Isaiah also spoke of this reaction when he said, “Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey” (Isaiah 59:15).
In spite of this vicious reaction, we are told to “rejoice, and be exceeding glad.” Therefore, God knows something that we don’t know about the great benefit and rewards of being reviled for doing good, and this is what we want to discuss this week.
One’s emotional response when his good is evil spoken of reveals his level of maturity in the ways of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment