Hated By All Nations

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Hated By All Nations

Have you ever gotten the sneakin’ feeling  that someone hates you  because you hold  to Christian values  –  values strongly upheld  in the word  of God Almighty?

These values include things like:

— There is only one LORD and God over all – absolutely none other.
— There is only one way of salvation and that is through Jesus Christ.
— Though all are sinners, we are saved by grace alone through faith in Jesus.
— Only God Almighty created all things through His word.
— Things like lying, cheating, adultery, murder, abortion, homosexuality,  blasphemy, pornography, idolatry, bearing false witness, covetousness,  and all things that, will bring down eternal judgment on us.
— God is spirit and is to be worshiped in spirit and truth (No false doctrines are to diminish God’s glory.).

More could be added  to the list,  but this is more than enough  to get a rise  out of many  –  even some Christians.     It’s no surprise.     Jesus says  in Matthew 24:9-13:

“Then  they will deliver you up  to tribulation,  and will kill you,  and you will be hated  by all nations  on account  of My name.     And at that time  many will fall away  and will betray  one another  and hate one another.     And many false prophets  will arise  and will mislead many.     And because lawlessness  is increased,  most people’s love  will grow cold.     But the one  who endures  to the end,  it is he  who shall be saved.”

Although God’s children  have faced  severe tribulations  since the beginning of time,  it seems  even more evident today  that we are living  in the end times  that Jesus was referring to.

The disregard  and despising  that Christians are facing  right here in America  makes one wonder  about our “freedom of religion”.

Many (many) years ago,  in some  of my college classes,  I was given low grades  for expressing Christian values,  even though  I also stated  the contrasting views  held by the world.    One professor even had me come in  for a “long talk”,  saying one is not  to state “religious opinions”.     And…,  he confessed that he was a Christian,  but would lose his job  if anyone found out  that he allowed my essay  to be given  an  “A”  in his grade calculations.     I was not to reveal that  to anyone.

Today,  hatred of Christian values i s promoted  through TV,  movies,  books,  our educational system,  and the internet.     With so much  blasting away  at our faith,  it’s sad  to see the faith  of many growing cold.

The media emphasizes  how lawlessness is increasing  and their emphasis seems  to promote further lawlessness  as the evil behaviors  spread rampantly.     It’s all so destructive.     Nobody seems  to have any control  over their own conduct  toward others.

Maybe that’s why Jesus says  in Matthew 24:22,

“And unless those days  had been cut short,  no life  would have been saved;  but for the sake  of the elect  those days  shall be cut short.”

In other words,  even though God  already knows  how bad things will get  in the end days  and how much  His children will suffer,  He wants us  to know  that He is still  in control.     He always has been  in control  and always  will be.

God will be  in control  in spite  of all the false prophets  showing great signs  and wonders  as they try   to mislead God’s elect  (Matthew 24:24).

Are we ready  for the times  to get tougher?     Are we strong enough  to stick  to the truth?     Do we even realize  the immensity  of the truth  of our salvation  in Christ?

What can we do?

Psalm 28:7  –  “The LORD is my strength  and my shield;  my heart trusts  in Him  and I am helped;  therefore  my heart exults.”

Only God  can strengthen us.     But we’ve got  to start sitting  at the feet of Jesus  and learning now.     We must dig  into His word now  for His strength,  so we can become strong  in His promises.

God has given us  His word  and kept it pure  for us  down through the ages  for a very good reason.     You can’t get  a dead man  to eat.     He has to receive nourishment  while he is still alive,  in order  to stay alive.

A strong faith  is nourished  by God’s living word, so we may always say,  “Hallelujah!”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

Pray for our country.

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect,   but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that  for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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