Persecution Prevails

Dr. Jeff Perry was the last Superintendent I worked for before leaving Hamblen County Schools in 2022. Dr. Perry is a genuine advocate for all students and his passion is to be admired. One time, during a terse student disciplinary situation, I happened to be in a room with Dr. Perry as he was working through his thoughts on what the outcome of this situation was going to be. During that conversation, Jeff Perry made a statement I won't soon forget. The choice he was about to make wasn't going to be necessarily popular, yet his mindset was obviously in the right place. "I wouldn't mind getting fired for doing the right thing for a kid", that phrase resonated with me then and it keeps my decision making process in line for the job that I do each day. Hence today's Flat Tire Ministries Thought for the Day title, "Persecution Prevails". If you are doing the right thing, it may very well land you in the seat of persecution, but as we will see today, the persecuted may very well prevail. 

Standing up for the right thing isn't always going to be the most popular thing to do. Men and women down through history have experienced a variety of consequences for their defense of right ranging from shunning, beatings or imprisonments to hangings, beheadings, or even crucifixion such as the case of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Two things need to be in place if you are planning on taking a stance for right, otherwise we could be guilty of supporting our own emotions or views rather than having the confidence of God's support via the truth of His Word, the guidance of His Holy Spirit, and the example Jesus gave us to follow. 

First, ask yourself this question, "Is what I am standing up for in line morally and ethically. To answer that question check it against scripture. Jesus faced opposition at every turn He made, and even though he was healing the sick and saving the lost, there were always neighsayers that wanted nothing more than to disprove Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew 22 religious leaders of the time were trying to catch Jesus in a trap by getting Him to denounce Caesar's authority. They asked Jesus whether people should pay their taxes to Caesar if he was not truly the imperial authority over them, to which Jesus directed them to look at a coin and tell Him whose picture is displayed. After answering the obvious, Jesus gave the Pharisees this response, "... Then He said to them, "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Matthew 22:21. Jesus didn't direct those who were following Him to be insurrectionists, their responsibility was to follow the laws of the land, but to live out a life of sacrifice and service to the Word of God. If you choose to stand up for right, test what you believe to be "right" by the litmus test of God's Holy Word. 

Second, knowing the right thing to do doesn't mean it will be the popular thing to do. Peter was a paradoxical example for this point in our discussion today. Peter was one of Jesus' early adopters. A member of the original twelve disciples, Peter must have witnessed hundreds of miraculous healings and myriad instances of Jesus casting out demons from possessed individuals. Yet when Jesus was arrested and taken away by Roman soldiers, Peter was quick to denounce that he even knew who Jesus was. Three times Peter denied he was a disciple of Jesus before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had predicted. (Luke 22:54-62). The paradox of Peter is what happened after he turned his back on Jesus during the arrest of Jesus. Scripture tells us that Peter went away and wept because he knew he had failed Jesus. This signaled Peter's repentance for failing Jesus, and as it is commonly said, well the rest is history. Peter went on to be an obstinate leader in the early church to the point that after His resurrection, Jesus named Simon Peter the rock or cornerstone of the Christian faith. Where Peter once denied Jesus, he moved forward standing for the righteousness of Christ as the risen savior and Son of the One True Living God. Peter was beaten, imprisoned, and eventually put to death himself, but his unwavering faith led him to share this message of encouragement for anyone who desires to stand up for the right of Christ in the face of persecution. Peter wrote to the early Christians in Asia Minor that were being persecuted for their belief telling them that, "... if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." I Peter 4:16. Peter was telling them that if they were persecuted for something wrong like murder or robbery that was the outcome you deserve, but if you are persecuted for standing up for God's Kingdom then that is honorable and honestly an admirable thing to do. 

For us today, doing the "right" thing is clearly following the example of Jesus. Jesus loved the unloveable, Jesus spent His days with the sick, the homeless, and the hopeless. Sinners and unbelievers were His company at the dinner table. Jesus healed men, women, and children regardless of where they were in their faith journey, because He knew that doing the right thing would pay off in the end even though it would cost Him His life as a human. What Jesus knew is that it wasn't about Him, it was all about building up future leaders for the early church so that today over 2 million people would proclaim the Christian faith. Through His persecution we have the opportunity to be saved and stand up for what is right. Truly "Persecution Prevails".

"For it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I live now in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20

Coach Carter