Day 018

I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Acts 26:15 (The New Living Translation)

Consecration and Conflict

When Paul was converted from his legalism and persecution of followers of Christ, he was confronted with a hard and bitter truth.

When Paul attacked Christ’s followers, Jesus saw it as an attack on Himself. The same is true today. When followers of Christ are persecuted, attacked, marginalised, ridiculed, sidelined or discriminated against, God views it as if He Himself is being persecuted, attacked, marginalised, ridiculed, sidelined and discriminated against. Part of the journey of consecration is learning how to deal with criticisms, attacks and being maligned.

We need to be careful to remember that when people criticise us for doing what is right, it is not us they are criticising, it is God Himself. We also need to be thankful that we live in a society where Christian witness and ministry, Christian social action and Christian engagement in our communities is possible. There are plenty of countries around the world where Christians find it almost impossible to be clear about their faith and their allegiance to Christ in what they do.

Perhaps we also need to remember that in the same way as Jesus saw what Paul was doing to those who loved and followed Jesus, He sees what happens to us. Ultimately, He is with us and even those who are critical of what we do and why we do it can be changed by God’s grace and power. However, one of the things that is changed in us by unfair criticism is that it can drive us into defensiveness or into dependence. When we are living and ministering in our own strength, we take things very personally and can become very combative, but when we consecrate our hearts and put our arms down, we can become more open and humbler. An unconsecrated heart will leap to self defence and self-reliance. A consecrated heart will lean into God’s strength and grace. Our reactions can reveal our soul’s health. When we are consumed by what others think, it is because we have begun to lose sight of what God thinks – and that happens when we forget the importance of consecration.

We need to remember that.

For further thought –

Think of ways in which your ministry or character has been ridiculed. How have you responded? You might be right in the middle of some hard stuff and your reactions might be displaying a need for you to be re-established in a consecrated intentionality with God. Your soul may be bruised, and you may need to take a moment to pray for those who have made your life so difficult whilst acknowledging that their actions and your re-actions have been used by God to reveal a need for greater holiness, intimacy and vulnerability in your own heart. Ask God to use the challenges you have faced or are facing to purify you rather than to harden you. As you do, pray for countries around the world where being a Christian is either outlawed or puts believers in danger. Who else do you know that might need encouragement today? Could you offer to spend time with a colleague on a retreat day, or in a personal time of worship, perhaps creating space to minister to one another?