When faced with persecution, we have the freedom to choose how we will react.

Jonah 3:1-10
Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19
Luke 11:29-32 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it  except the sign of Jonah. (30) For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin'eveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation. (31) The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to  hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. (32) The men of Nin'eveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Meditation:
Do you pay careful attention to warning signs? Many fatalities could be avoided if people paid attention to such signs. When the religious leaders demanded a sign from Jesus, he gave them a serious warning to avert spiritual disaster. It was characteristic of the Jews that they demanded "signs" from God's messengers to authenticate their claims. When the religious leaders pressed Jesus to give proof for his claims he says in so many words that he is God's sign and that they need no further evidence from heaven than his own person. The Ninevites recognized God's warning when Jonah spoke to them, and they repented. And the Queen of Sheba recognized God's wisdom in Solomon.

 Jonah was God's sign and his message was the message of a merciful God for the people of Nineveh.  Unfortunately the religious leaders were not content to accept the signs right before their eyes. They had rejected the message of John the Baptist and now they reject Jesus as God's Anointed One (Messiah) and they fail to heed his message. Simeon had prophesied at Jesus' birth that he was "destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that inner thoughts of many will be revealed" (Luke 2:34-35). Jesus confirmed his message with many miracles in preparation for the greatest sign of all – his resurrection on the third day.

The Lord Jesus came to set us free from slavery to sin and hurtful desires. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit he pours his love into our hearts that we may understand his will for our lives and walk in his way of holiness. God searches our hearts, not to condemn us, but to show us where we need his saving grace and help.  He calls us to seek him with true repentance, humility, and the honesty to see our sins for what they really are – a rejection of his love and will for our lives. God will transform us if we listen to his word and allow his Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Ask the Lord to renew your mind and to increase your thirst for his wisdom. James says that the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity (James 3:17). A double-minded person cannot receive this kind of wisdom. The single of mind desire one thing alone – God's pleasure. God wants us to delight in him and to know the freedom of his truth and love. Do you thirst for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14)?

"Lord Jesus, change my heart and fill me with your wisdom that I my love your ways. Give me grace and courage to resist temptation and stubborn wilfulness that I may truly desire to do what is pleasing to you." 
 
Supplementary Reading
Frustration to Freedom

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." – Matthew 5:10
 
Victor Frankl, author of Man's Search for Meaning, conceived of his pioneering logotherapy while in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. When they took away his clothes and finally his wedding band, this thought came to him: "You can take away my belongings, you can take away my freedom, but you can never take away my freedom to react to what you do to me!"

When faced with persecution, we have the freedom to choose how we will react. We can react with depression, even thoughts of suicide, or we can react by asking, "What can we learn from this? How can we turn this into something beautiful for God?"

Blessed are those who see meaning in life and purpose in all things, for they are comforted knowing that God's hand is at work—even in the most distressing circumstances.

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Are you currently facing some distressing circumstances in life? When you can't see God's hand, trust his heart. You'll find comfort in that.
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Devotions taken from the "Power for Life Daily Devotional."

 

GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
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