Keep doing what is right

 25 Dec 25

Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion


Keep doing what is right

It is not shameful to suffer for being a Christian. When Peter and John were persecuted for preaching the Good News, they rejoiced because such persecution was a mark of God's approval of their work. Don't seek out suffering, and don't try to avoid it. Instead, keep on doing what is right regardless of the suffering it might bring.


“However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Reflections

I was just thinking and also reflecting that being Christian is tough work. I guess nobody also said that it is going to be easy except for certain places who preached prosperity gospels. We all know that the Lord holds us up to certain standards and the whole world looks at us with those standards as well. Even before a Christian open their mouth, they are already being judged. It is as if the world looks at us with eagle eyes, ready to point out instances when we fail or fall. Or at least that is what I felt.


I am just glad that we are accountable to God and not men and that He won’t fault us for genuine errors that we make.


The devotional today has placed a strong emphasis on doing what is right, *as a Christian*. We are to obey His commands regardless whether we like it not. We are supposed to do whatever it takes in carrying out God’s works, even if it meant persecution. However, I must say that we live in this part of the world (country) that does not reject Christianity as a whole. So much so I felt that we get complacent too easily. 


In other words, we face no persecution here, and as a Christian, nobody throw stones at us. However, this is not so in other parts of the world.

China for example, has underground churches and Christianity is not an open religion. Even in Nepal, neighbours throw stones at you because you are a Christian. 


The one thing we must do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, we press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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