The Tupelo journal., 1903-12-18

huOWH, yet IL lS Sull true tHdI all
that will live Cody in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution" The devil has not
ceased his opposition to the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, but he has been forced to
alter his methods of attack. Ridicule and
petty annoyances and inhumanities have
come to be favorite weapons. The fol-
lowing OF Jesus means the bearing Of a
cross to-day as much as it ever did, and
he that taketh not his cross and fol-
loweth after Me, is rot worthy of Me-"
1t would almost seem that Jesus, looking
beyond the centuries Of active and
bloody persecution of His followers to
the present day, uttered His woe unto
you when all men shall speak well of
you," with special emphasis for His fol-
lowers to-day. The Christian all too
often walks arm in arm with the world,
and thereby wins it's favor and CON-
~mendation, but the woe of Jesus
sounds out against these and His
blessed" is reserved for those who are
reviled and prosecuted and accused of
all manner of evil falsely for His sake.
MOT only is the suffering of persecu-
| Y ton for Jesus sake the fulfllment
of prophecy, but it is a proof of Divine
favor. When the apostles of the early
church preached Jesus to the multi
tudes at Jerusalem they incurred the
deadly hostility of the Sanhedrin, as
Jesus Himself had done before His
crucifiXion. They were dragged before
the council and cruelty beaten. But, in
stead of being crushed and disheartened
by the persecution, they departed from
the presence of the council, rejoicing
that they were counted worthy to suffer
shame for His name" Their suffering
and distress were welcomed as a spe-
cial evidence of the Divine favor. Think
OF 1t! Test the temper of Christians to-
day and the true ring of devotion to the
Lord Jesus fails to sound forth. We re-
Joice rather when the way is smooth and
easy. The line of the least resistance
is sought out. The truth of the Gospel
Is often compromised in order to avoid
friction and antagonism. But the early
disciples welcomed persecution, when it
came as a result of faithful living and
preaching of Jesus Christ. as a sure tes-
tlmony OF their dear Saviour's love and
ravor. Though their backs ached and
the blood stained their garments, the
inward presence and peace of their
Lord made them rejoice. They felt
honored because they were permitted
to suffer for His sake. Paul bore in
his body the marks of manifold perse-
cutlons, but they were all made beau
tlful in his eyes by seeing in them
the proofs Of the Divine favor. They
were the marks CT the Lord Jesus
Himself. Never does there come a
persecution to a disciple of Jesus Christ
as a result Of faithful and obedient
service, but that it is a sure evidence
OF the presence of the Lord with the
disciple and of the effectiveness of
the work being done. Oh, we need
to-day to learn the joy of being CUNT
ed worthy to suffer shame for Jesus
sake. | think sometimes the Christian
ought to pray for the persecution that
Will send the roots down deeper and
strengthen and solidify the life and
make fruit bearing more possible.
The sapling may groan under the lash
OF he tempest, but the heightened
root, the enlarged trunk and the loft
Ter reach into the sunshine, and the
dewy night, are witnesses of Mother
Natures love and devotion. And SO it
is with the Christian. Whom the
~-l 1-.1 T
let's the rods of men perform the work
of discipline. Persecution is a proof
of Divine favor.
A ND persecution is the evidence of