Our paragraph topic is: (Opposition foretold) Part 10.
The disciples get a chance to know the outcome of their actions. Christ tells them the destruction that will take place as a result of their preaching of the kingdom of heaven to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Those opposed to the teaching will take up arms against those who believe in the teachings of Christ. Christ told them that brother will hand over brother to death. He told them that parents will give up their children to death because of the teachings. And he told them that children will turn against their parents because of unbelief in the teachings they will make. There will be bloodshed in the family. There will be bloodsed amongst kinspeople. There will be bloodshed in the streets of the villages and towns where they will make their solo journeys.
The disciples are at war with the evil forces of the spiritual world. They have put on the armor of Christ and have gone to war with the demons that have taken over the villages and towns of the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The demons have planted tricks and traps for the disciples. But Christ has prepared them for the battle. The demons fight against the spread of the word of Christ. They will bring about the slaughter of brothers, and mothers and fathers, and children to achieve their goal, the destruction of the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But there will be those who will hold steadfast to their beliefs. There will be those who will not be afraid. There will be those of the lost sheep who will welcome the teachings of Christ and who will become martyrs for the teachings of Christ.
Christ tells his disciples that there is one trait that will prevail for those who believe. He tells them that "He who has persevered to the end will be saved." Being steadfast is the key to salvation. Holding on to the end will bring eternal life. Perseverance, Christ says, is the one trait that will bring salvation to those who believe. They will face obstacles. They will encounter hurdles. They will face challenges. They will be tempted by the evil ones who would turn them away. But perseverance will be the key for their salvation. Holding on steadfastly and doggedly believing in the principles that Christ teaches will be the key.
Likewise we also must take heed of this trait that Christ tells his disciples. Perseverance will be the key for us today. Some days will be more difficult than others. Some days we will be tempted to give up and give in to temptation. Some days we will not have the energy to fight. Some days the world will cave in on us with all of the challenges that will come on us all at once. Some days we may not be able to see the light of day becuase of the hole that we find ourselves in. But Christ, in his own words, has told us that those who have persevered to the end will be saved. So, we must pick ourselves up each day, each minute, each hour, and continue to fight the fight, win the battle, sing the song of praise and glory to God our Father. For he is on the throne in heaven. He is the one true God and there is no other before him.
So gather your strength before you. Store up your weapons of priase that will support you during your hour of need. Read the verses of the Bible and keep them near you as your rock of salvation. For they will give you your strength. They will support you. They will defend you when you cannot defend yourself. They will uplift you in your time of need. They will provide for you in your hour of temptation. For Christ said, "Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God." Let us then persevere at all times, and be steadfast in our beliefs in the risen Christ. Are you ready to persevere for Christ unto your salvation?
The disciples get a chance to know the outcome of their actions. Christ tells them the destruction that will take place as a result of their preaching of the kingdom of heaven to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Those opposed to the teaching will take up arms against those who believe in the teachings of Christ. Christ told them that brother will hand over brother to death. He told them that parents will give up their children to death because of the teachings. And he told them that children will turn against their parents because of unbelief in the teachings they will make. There will be bloodshed in the family. There will be bloodsed amongst kinspeople. There will be bloodshed in the streets of the villages and towns where they will make their solo journeys.
The disciples are at war with the evil forces of the spiritual world. They have put on the armor of Christ and have gone to war with the demons that have taken over the villages and towns of the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The demons have planted tricks and traps for the disciples. But Christ has prepared them for the battle. The demons fight against the spread of the word of Christ. They will bring about the slaughter of brothers, and mothers and fathers, and children to achieve their goal, the destruction of the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But there will be those who will hold steadfast to their beliefs. There will be those who will not be afraid. There will be those of the lost sheep who will welcome the teachings of Christ and who will become martyrs for the teachings of Christ.
Christ tells his disciples that there is one trait that will prevail for those who believe. He tells them that "He who has persevered to the end will be saved." Being steadfast is the key to salvation. Holding on to the end will bring eternal life. Perseverance, Christ says, is the one trait that will bring salvation to those who believe. They will face obstacles. They will encounter hurdles. They will face challenges. They will be tempted by the evil ones who would turn them away. But perseverance will be the key for their salvation. Holding on steadfastly and doggedly believing in the principles that Christ teaches will be the key.
Likewise we also must take heed of this trait that Christ tells his disciples. Perseverance will be the key for us today. Some days will be more difficult than others. Some days we will be tempted to give up and give in to temptation. Some days we will not have the energy to fight. Some days the world will cave in on us with all of the challenges that will come on us all at once. Some days we may not be able to see the light of day becuase of the hole that we find ourselves in. But Christ, in his own words, has told us that those who have persevered to the end will be saved. So, we must pick ourselves up each day, each minute, each hour, and continue to fight the fight, win the battle, sing the song of praise and glory to God our Father. For he is on the throne in heaven. He is the one true God and there is no other before him.
So gather your strength before you. Store up your weapons of priase that will support you during your hour of need. Read the verses of the Bible and keep them near you as your rock of salvation. For they will give you your strength. They will support you. They will defend you when you cannot defend yourself. They will uplift you in your time of need. They will provide for you in your hour of temptation. For Christ said, "Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God." Let us then persevere at all times, and be steadfast in our beliefs in the risen Christ. Are you ready to persevere for Christ unto your salvation?
