Holy Terror
When Jesus sends his apostles out, he sends them to the Jews and Gentiles alike.
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. - Matt. 10:16-22
They will be a holy threat to those who lead the people according to their interpretation of God's desire.
Imagine getting God wrong.
Paul did it later on. He got God wrong and thought he had gotten God right.
This is our plight as humans. We think we know what is right and wrong, but what if we are wrong about that?
I would hate to find out on my last day that my life was spent the wrong way, that I could have seen the glory of God's kingdom here and missed it.
Jesus reminds us that we will be persecuted for following him, and that can be a huge turn-off for many.
Why go through all this and be miserable?
But what if it doesn't make you miserable but makes you joyful instead?
We know we are already saved by Christ, and we know that this life can be challenging at times, with pain and suffering among the worst of what we will experience. But we are children of God!
We are the holy threat.
When we were children, we were proud of being a holy terror, so why not enjoy it again?
More to come...