AFFLICTIONS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
Psalms 34:19 (NKJV)
READ: Psalm 34:15–22
Many are the afflictions of the righteous because the system of the world is against righteousness. Whoever wants to live right would be opposed by the world (2 Timothy 3:12). The system of the world is against the system of God’s kingdom, and because the devil is the god of this world, he wants to make life
miserable for believers who live right—those who obey and walk in the commandments of God (2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:17). Whoever is living right is obnoxious to the devil and to the people of the world—the unbelievers.
Whoever is living right, walking in the principles of God’s kingdom found in the Bible, is a light, and light exposes and dispels darkness (Matthew 5:14–16; Psalm 119:105). Thus, the righteous being a light in the midst of darkness would automatically face a lot of
confrontations and challenges; hence, the afflictions of the righteous are many (Psalm 34:19; 2 Timothy 3:12).
• If you are truthful and want to live in line with the Bible, the system of the world would be against you. The system of the world is against the truth.
• Another thing is that the adamic nature—human nature—is rebellious. Thus, living in line with God’s Word is a big challenge for the people of the world and for believers who refuse to mortify their flesh (Colossians 3:5,6).
But the comfort in it is that the righteous was not left in the predicaments or afflictions; he was delivered from them all (Psalm 34:19). The truth is, if you want to live right, live according to the
Bible; you will surely be hated and face a lot of challenges:
“BECAUSE NARROW IS THE GATE AND DIFFICULT IS THE WAY WHICH LEADS TO LIFE, AND THERE ARE FEW
WHO FIND IT”
Matthew 7:14 (NKJV)
“YES, AND ALL WHO DESIRE TO LIVE GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION.”
2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV)
Whatever you suffer because of living right worth it, because nothing can be compared with the salvation of your soul and your steadfastness in God:
12 BELOVED, DO NOT THINK IT STRANGE CONCERNING THE FIERY TRIAL WHICH IS TO TRY YOU, AS THOUGH SOME STRANGE THING HAPPENED TO YOU;
13 BUT REJOICE TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU PARTAKE OF CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS, THAT WHEN HIS GLORY IS REVEALED, YOU MAY ALSO BE GLAD WITH EXCEEDING JOY.
14 IF YOU ARE REPROACHED FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST, BLESSED ARE YOU, FOR THE SPIRIT OF GLORY AND OF
GOD RESTS UPON YOU.”
1 Peter 4:12–14 (NKJV)
Reflect:
• Are you currently facing afflictions because of your commitment to righteousness ?
• Are you interpreting them correctly?
Peace.
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