horribly good…persecution…

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. …” –Jesus

Matthew 5:43-45 ESV

It all seems so unfair…!

Jesus… wholly innocent… Author of Life… the Word made flesh… unjustly accused… condemned… crucified…

And… Yes…! it is unfair… especially when you know what lies behind…

It is unfair… He chose to die for His enemies… which is what everyone of us is… are… were…

He took the punishment we deserve… to make a way for us to be wholly righteous… pure… in the Father’s eyes…

When life seems unfair to us… from our perspective of being His follower…

when evil seems to win… Believers persecuted… from critical comments… to incarceration… and in some places… death…

and we wonder… How does God stand it…? letting all this injustice rule…?!!

Where is He…? why must I endure…?!

We need to remember His love for all…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. …”

John 3:16-17 ESV

God loves all whom He created… and is creating…

His grace pours out on everyone just the same… rain and shine… season to season… year after year…

His slowness to anger wanting… waiting… for hearts to turn…

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Luke 23:34 ESV

Oh… because He came for all…

Jesus… endures… persecution… unfair… unjust… for all time… to make a Way… for all who will come…

Some days… evil seems greater than Good… but it’s an illusion…

On the cross… evil has already been defeated…

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2Peter 3:8-9 ESV

Remember today… His patience with you… be thank-full… and come alongside Him… to love those He is patiently waiting for…

[Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash]