All who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
I think all of us have hit valleys in our life that we don’t seem to make any headway in our walk with Christ. As Saint Paul says that following Christ is a way of life.
Last week a life long friend from Florida stopped by or home in Tulsa on his way to visit his son, my godson, in Colorado. His wife has to stay with the other son who has special needs. We had a good visit until the last evening. We went out to eat and my friend had too much to drink and embarrassed both my wife, Anna, and me. We all make mistakes. I am the first to admit that I am guilty. It seems that we have practiced social distancing for so long that we forget our manners. It was upsetting and spoiled an otherwise great 3 day weekend with friends who haven’t seen each other in a long time.
Saint Paul also writes, In fact, all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted and disappointments in life. Because of the current pandemic and the riots and economic disasters, we are all being persecuted. Our world at present needs a solution.
Saint Paul , goes on to describe his way of life, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance persecutions and sufferings, such as happened to me.
One of my favorite Catholic authors is Tom Hoopes who wrote an article recently on May 26, 2020 entitled Christianity First Grew Through Hope in a Pandemic . If you have time, it is a good read.
What gets us through the valley?
Saint Paul says, Yet from all these things the Lord delivered me. Just like in the 23rd Psalm the Lord will deliver us and our cups will overflow. Scripture gives us the game plan. We have to be consistent and follow the plan.
Yes we will have valleys .
Yes will will be persecuted.
Yes we will make mistakes.
This week, there are families and individuals who will be issued eviction notices. Please pray for them and the landlords who also have bills to pay themselves and their families. If I had the money, I would pay everyone’s mortgage or rent payment this month. My heart goes out to anyone in this situation. We somehow can get food to people in need but not shelter on a consistent basis.
We are all in this together and there are many suffering people in our world with this raging pandemic’s aftermath. We have to follow the plan and know that there is hope.
I am reminded of the footsteps prayer where there is only on set of prints in the sand. We have to know God is on our side. He loves us. One of the lines in Psalm 119 for today says Princes persecute me without cause but my heart stands in awe of your word… O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
May the Lord give you peace today.
God love you always,
Bob Burford
