Please tell me it’s not true ∙∙
Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. – 2 Timothy 3:12
John 15:18-21
18 If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.
19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
20 Do you remember what I told you? “A slave is not greater than the master.” Since they persecuted me, naturally, they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.
21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.
What is a promise?
A promise is a pledge or commitment made by someone, signifying that they will either carry out or refrain from a specific action. When used as a noun, it refers to a declaration or assurance. When used as a verb, it describes the act of giving one’s word to do something. It signifies the act of making such a commitment.
The beloved philosopher Winnie the Pooh aptly captured the essence of promises with his timeless words, “Promise me you’ll always remember you’re braver than you believe, you are stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.”
Yet, not all promises are easy to accept. Some we may even wish were never made. This includes promises found within the Scriptures. For instance, Jesus Christ promised that anyone following Him with a desire to live a godly life would face persecution.
2 Timothy 3:12 reminds us, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
Please tell me it’s not true. But it is true. Jesus warned His followers because He wanted to prepare them. The reality is that choosing to do what is right, that is, walking in righteousness, often comes with challenges and suffering.
Some of the Father’s promises, like this one, are hard to accept. But God provides them not to discourage us but to equip us. He wants us to be ready when hardship comes so that we can stand firm and reflect His light (Stanley).
While facing persecution may seem disheartening and superficially regrettable, it can also carry an unexpected potential for growth and even blessings.
Who would willingly choose suffering or hardship? It’s an idea that initially seems unthinkable, yet it happens every day. A parent will endanger their own life to protect their child. An athlete endures grueling practices, physical aches, and isolation to achieve their goals. Soldiers throughout history have willingly placed themselves in harm’s way to defend their families, homes, and nations, often with great sacrifice.
What connects these acts? It is the choice to sacrifice oneself for a greater purpose or to protect something deeply valued.
The apostle Paul understood this concept through his intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. For Paul, sacrificing for the sake of knowing and serving the Lord Jesus Christ took on immense significance and became a source of purpose.
In Philippians 3:8-11, Paul wrote, “Yes, everything else is worthless compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake, I have discarded everything else, treating it as nothing so that I may gain Christ and be united with Him . . .. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. I also want to share in His sufferings and even in His death so that, in some way, I may attain the resurrection from the dead!”
Paul saw immense value and joy in knowing Christ, even when it meant suffering for Him. This perspective invites us to see challenges not as mere burdens but as opportunities to grow closer to God and to reflect His glory in our lives.
Paul willingly gave up everything he once held most dear. But why? But for what end? What could compel such a dramatic change in his perspective and priorities? The answer lies in what Paul discovered to be of far greater worth than anything the world could offer.
Paul’s entire life became centered on one defining purpose—“Knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” This wasn’t a quest for intellectual facts or more theological knowledge. Instead, Paul yearned for a deep, personal connection. He didn’t simply want to learn about Jesus. His heart longed to truly know Him in an intimate, experiential way.
The Greek word ginosko, translated as know, conveys more than “mere head knowledge or an understanding of facts.” It speaks to an “experiential, relational knowing” —one that comes from “close interaction with another person.” Paul’s desire wasn’t academic; it was deeply personal. He sought to know the resurrected and living Christ in a way that transformed every part of his life.
Paul’s longing was to gain Christ and be fully united with Him. He longs for a deeper personal relationship with Him. He wanted to experience the full power of Christ’s resurrection in his life—a power that brings transformation, renewal, and hope. But then comes the twist that seems so strange, perplexing, and even bizarre. Paul also wanted to share in Christ’s sufferings. To him, suffering for and with Christ meant a deeper fellowship, one that brought him even closer to his Savior.
Ultimately, Paul didn’t just want to know Christ or share in His sufferings; he also sought to share in His resurrection. This hope of resurrection wasn’t just about an eventual future—it was the ultimate culmination of the life Paul had in Christ.
REFLECT & PRAY
It is through suffering and dying to ourselves that we come to know the Lord Jesus Christ intimately. We are achieving unity with Him. We experience oneness with Him. When we share His sufferings, we share His life, power, and resurrection.
Father, how frequently have I grappled with affliction and become overwhelmed with self-doubt? Father, help me to understand the struggle and to realize that I must become low in order to become high, and I must become weak in order to become strong.
INSIGHT
Resurrection stands as the core of Christian hope—a lens through which life’s hardships and struggles gain eternal meaning. Paul understood that sharing in Christ’s sufferings and death leads to resurrection. This isn’t a form of escapism but a profound trust in God’s power to redeem. It assures believers that every sacrifice, every trial, even death itself, is not in vain but is part of their transformation into new life.
Many believers wrestle with finding purpose in a world filled with confusion and despair. Yet Paul uncovered a paradoxical truth taught by Christ Himself—it is through dying to self that we truly live. Resurrection points not only to the future, where Christ’s followers are physically raised with Him, but also to present reality. As we surrender our desires and ego, Christ’s resurrection life becomes alive within us, empowering our daily walk.
Philippians 2:8-9 captures this beautifully: “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above every name.” Jesus chose humility and suffering, enduring death so that He could triumph in resurrection and glory. His path from low to high demonstrates the ultimate transformation.
Paul’s life was centered on deeply and personally knowing Christ. He invites every believer to pursue this same intimate relationship. Resurrection life is not just a future promise—it’s a present power, shaping and lifting us as we seek to know Christ and walk with Him daily.
How do we get there from here? By spending time in the Word of God and getting to know the Father and the Son.
Experiencing the fullness of resurrection power begins with immersing ourselves in God’s Word. As Charles Stanley notes, “The Word of God, living and growing within us, produces lasting and increasing joy. A lack of joy in a Christian’s life often can be traced to a lack of concentrated devotional time in God’s Word.”
¯_(ツ)_/¯ 8-21-1
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 