Are games in the NBA fixed?  Today's New York Times reports on the controversy surrounding Tim Donaghy, a disgraced former referee.  He now alleges that the league influenced the outcome of key playoff games.  The league and most observers insist that Donaghy is lying.  Meanwhile, the Lakers and Celtics are trying to play the finals.  In a fallen world, undeserved adversity is a part of life.

 

In seeking the true happiness Jesus alone can give, we've come to his last Beatitude.  It begins: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10).  Jesus predicted that his followers would be persecuted, and they were.

 

William Barclay comments: "All the world knows of the Christians who were flung to the lions or burned at the stake; but these were kindly deaths.  Nero wrapped the Christians in pitch and set them alight, and used them as living torches to light his gardens.  He sewed them in the skins of wild animals and set his hunting dogs upon them to tear them to death.  They were tortured on the rack; they were scraped with pincers; molten lead was poured hissing upon them; red hot brass plates were affixed to the tenderest parts of their bodies; eyes were torn out; parts of their bodies were cut off and roasted before their eyes; their hands and feet were burned while cold water was poured over them to lengthen the agony.  These things are not pleasant to think about, but these are the things a man had to be prepared for, if he took his stand with Christ."

 

Persecution has remained a fact accompanying the Christian faith for all the centuries from their day to ours.  Seventy million believers have been murdered across Christian history for no reason except that they would not renounce their faith in Jesus.  More believers were martyred in the 20th century than the previous 19 combined.

 

Totalitarian regimes cannot tolerate our commitment to Christ as Lord.  Secular culture does not understand our convictions.  And Satan hates us.  Jesus called him "a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44).  Peter warned us: "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).  600 years ago Thomas a Kempis observed, "The devil sleepeth not, neither is the flesh as yet dead, therefore cease not to prepare thyself for the battle, for on thy right hand and on thy left are enemies who never rest."  He is still right.

 

Are you paying a price to follow Jesus?  It not, why not?  Let's continue tomorrow.

 

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