Today's Devotional

October 23, 2003

Subject:  Jesus Haters 

Acts 22:7-8 - "And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest."

The recent flap about the Army General who is speaking the truth of the gospel in a forthright and frank manner serves to illustrate that what Paul did in his pre-conversion days is still going on.  Remember, Paul went from city to city casting Christians into prison and harassing them as much as he could.  However, it's quite interesting, how on that fateful day when he is being brought into an accounting for his actions, what Jesus said to him.  Jesus didn't say, "hey stop harassing the children of God" or "don't mess with those Christians."  No, Jesus made it quite clear that Paul may have bound the Christians and cast them into prison, but they were not the people whom he was persecuting.  No, the persecution was against Jesus Himself.

Here in Washington D.C. they are now attempting to take actions against Lieutenant General Boykin because of statements like, "our enemy is Satan and the spiritual forces of darkness."  Yes, he is under attack because of truth.  Many want him relieved (fired) of his duties.  Well one day, those who are looking to bind him up and cast him away will have to look face to face with the same man that Paul saw on the road to Damascus that day and in today's vernacular, he will ask, "why you hatin' Me?"

Let's stand firm in the faith because, like the General, they're not hating you when you stand for Christ, they're hating Him.

Carlen