[Real Life] Struggles StrengthenSample

Persecution

Everyone loves the fruit of the Spirit. It doesn’t matter who you are. Everyone says, “The fruit of the Spirit is awesome! Who doesn’t want it?” If you were to say to any marriage, “Do you want, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?” the marriage would say, “Yes, we do!” 

“Employers, what kind of employee do you want?” “Boy, I’d like to have someone that’s patient, good with clients. Someone who’s faithful, and shows up at work. I’d like someone that’s self-controlled, and disciplined to make sure they’re on task.” Everybody loves the fruit of the Spirit, but they do not love the route to gain the fruit of the Spirit. That is the difference. 

Everybody in any government, religion, institution, marriage, or occupation would say, “Yes!” to the fruit of the Spirit. On the other hand, they would likely say “No,” to the route to the fruit of the Spirit. The route is connecting, yielding, and surrendering to the Vine—obedience to Christ. Those outside the desire to please God do not say ‘no’ to the attributes of the Spirit, but to Jesus Christ and surrendering to Him. But the fruit of the Spirit comes through abiding—surrendering is abiding. 

Do not take it personally: expect it. This is normative Christianity, “The servant is not greater than the master.” It comes with the territory. If you are the president of a bank, you must expect you are going to get complaints from somebody. It doesn’t have anything to do with you. If you work in retail during Christmas, standing behind the cash register, and customers are upset, they’re not upset with you, they’re upset with whoever is behind the cash register at that moment. In my role as a pastor, “whoever the pastor is,” is going to receive that compliment, that encouragement, or that not-so-encouraging criticism. It is the position that brings persecution. 

When we realize that our position is in Jesus Christ, and Christ is in our identity, then we cannot take things personally. 

Let me remind you that Jesus Christ was crucified. People did not like Him! We love Him in the church. The world does not. When we look like Jesus, we are going to be met with some opposition. Expect it! Do not be surprised by it.