Good and very cold Wednesday morning! I see a big minus before that 15 this morning, yeeowch! Happy Groundhog's Day! I don't think we give a hoot what the rodent has to say this morning. All of us are just hoping this latest cold, cold storm moves on soon! Actually the rodent predicted an early spring, but I don't think anyone believes him today. The rodent may want to watch out if he is wrong though. Back in the day, false prophets could meet a rough end if they didn't say what the people or king wanted to hear. A false prophet could have a sudden and painful end too if he or she tried to make a real prophecy and failed. Strangely, you might think that real prophets who spoke real prophecies would have great reward and an easy life. Nothing could be further from the truth. The real prophets foretold a future that the idolatrous Israelites didn't want to hear. Real prophets had to confront kings with their sin and tell the king that God was not pleased. Real prophets in Jerusalem seldom lived to a ripe old age. That little rodent in Pennsylvania is treated far better than the prophets of old were.
Take encouragement from the one who did everything right, Jesus the Son of God. Jesus also shared in the early and painful death that Jerusalem dealt out to those who would bring them the Word of God. Some of his apostles and followers would get the same treatment until Rome decided to take over as the top persecutor of Christ-ones some years later. Life as a chosen one of God can be short and tough here on this earth. Jesus gave us his assurance that this would in fact be the case. Today we get scoffed at.
Jesus told us this would happen too when he inspired Peter's letters. Today we have an entire industry of scoffers. They scoff at the President, Congress, politicians of all levels, CEO's, celebrities, and of course, believers in most anything. One group can really draw the scoffing though and that is those who believe in Christ. Some nations have outlawed the worship of God, other nations have tried to regulate it, some nations have come out in complete hatred of it, and a few nations have denied the existence of God. Intellectuals have called it silly or superstitious, other intellectuals have ignored it or lumped it in with other religions, and of course there was the one who said that God is dead. Imagine the fun he will have at the Judgement Day of God! All of this, and the world sets aside a day to watch a groundhog?
Hey, we will see some crazy things in this life as we walk with Jesus. The funny thing is, you and I will probably be called crazy at some point. Perhaps the scoffer won't use the word 'crazy', but will say the same thing in a different way. Jesus was called that too, and He understands completely when you and I feel the sting of rejection in this world. We wouldn't feel that sting if we didn't reach out in love first, just as our Lord Jesus did.
Have a great and blessed day in Christ!
Bucky
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