Don’t lose heart !

You feel life is unfair even though you have been fair to everyone, nothing is going right even after doing your best, you are receiving blame for no fault of yours, others are taking advantage of your simplicity- don’t lose heart.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
(Isaiah 41:10 NLT)

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
(1Peter 5:7 NLT)

Dwell on God’s promises and keep praying those scriptures back to Him.

For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
(Psalms 32:7‭-‬8 NLT)

Trust in Him who called you according to His purpose and keep loving and honouring Him.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
(Romans 8:28 NLT)

Signs of the Times!

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”
(2Timothy 3:1‭-‬5 NLT)

God’s Word said centuries ago that the end times will be perilous and difficult times. If we turn around we can see that we are living in difficult times. We see that people are utterly selfish. They love money more than anything else. Even within the family we see the result of selfishness. Children grow aimless, Godless and characterless. Elderly are left to struggle and suffer. These days for monetary gains we are ready to sacrifice relationships and principles.

We see that people are very boastful and proud. They are proud about their positions and possessions. They boast about their wealth, which is there today and can vanish tomorrow. People are too haughty so they put down and belittle others. They want fame, honour and glory for themselves. They don’t mind taking credit for what God is doing. They even blaspheme the name of God for the sake of social approval and political correctness. They will openly agree that all faiths are equal and you just need to be a good human being. They may go to the extent of bowing to every other deity.

People these days do not understand the meaning and essence of true love. Everyone talks about it. Counselors and gurus project love as the solution for the world’s problems. They conduct seminars on how to love others but people hate each other more than ever. Hate crimes are on the increase. People are revengeful and can not forgive others. Everyone is ready to return insult for insult and even assault for insult. Violence and crime are escalating day by day. Nobody hesitates to slander others. They carry tales to defame those whom they dislike. They don’t feel guilty at all. We burst out in anger with no self control and humiliate others in public. Brutality is what is seen depicted in the daily news.

Public opinion about what is good and bad, right and wrong has changed. People have started calling ‘good’ evil and ‘evil’ good. They can betray their own kith and kin without the slightest feeling of guilt. Those who dream of authority and power are often the worst traitors.

These are days of camouflage. You won’t know the real person until you get close enough. They appear pious and religious but they deny the truth. They don’t love and obey God but they pretend to be Godly and assume to be followers of Christ. They are pleasure loving and teach and preach what makes people feel good.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
(2Timothy 4:3‭-‬4 NLT)

Followers of Jesus are instructed to turn away from such people. Are we like these end-time-generation Christians who display a fake Christianity?

The Lord God has told us what is right and what he demands: “See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God.”
(Mic 6:8 CEV)

Cost of being a Jesus follower

 

…and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. Mt. 10: 16-33

How to conduct themselves in the world
While commissioning His disciples Jesus warned them that they will be like sheep among wolves, so He charged them to be shrewd (like serpents) and innocent to evil (as doves).
What to expect from people

1. People will falsely accuse you, ill-treat you, frame you, persecute you and bring you to trial because you bear the name of Christ. But these are opportunities to be His witness.
2. Members of the family will turn against you and betray you.
3. “…you will be hated by all for my name’s sake.” (v. 22)

How to respond to persecution
Holy Spirit will enable you to speak the right words at that moment. (vv. 19-20). Those who endure till the end will be saved. Flee from the place of persecution.
The Attitude

1. Be happy to be like the Master. The disciple should not expect a better treatment than what His Master received. The highest goal of a disciple is to be like his Master. If the Master was called Satan, we will be named worse.
2. Do not fear people, boldly proclaim the truth. People can kill only your body, you will still live eternally. God can throw the wicked in hell for ever.
3. God cares about every detail of your life. You are more precious to Him than the rest of creation. He is in absolute control and knows in detail what is happening in your life. He has numbered the hairs on your head and if one hair falls, He knows which one has fallen.
4. Those who openly acknowledge Jesus as their Lord will be acknowledged by Him in heaven before the Father and those who deny Jesus will be denied by Him before God the Father.