When Opposed, Choose Worship Over Worry
By Rick Warren
“If you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” 1 Peter 3:14-15 (NLT)
Christianity is not for weaklings, wimps, or the faint of heart. It takes courageous men and women to follow Jesus.
What is it costing you to follow Christ? Unlike many believers around the world, you may not live in an area where you face violent oppression. But you likely deal with silent repression every single day as most cultures are becoming more and more secularized and anti-Christian.
No matter where you’re from, when you’re faced with opposition because of your faith, it’s natural to feel afraid. So how do you get rid of the fear of opposition? How do you get rid of the fear of disapproval? How do you get rid of the fear of being rejected?
You need to be filled with God’s love. The Bible says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18 ESV). When you face opposition, choose to focus on God’s love for you. People who rest in the assurance of God’s love don’t fear rejection or disapproval.
The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:14-15, “If you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it” (NLT).
When you feel pressured to be quiet about your faith, you have a choice: You can worry, or you can worship. That means either you panic or you pray; you focus on the problem, pressure, and persecution, or you focus on God.
When you’re opposed because of your faith, you’re going to feel pressure. But choose to turn away from the pressure you feel and put your focus on God. In other words, choose to worship—because focusing on God is essentially worship.
Next time you face opposition for your faith, choose to worship instead of worry.
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The Bible tells us to “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NIV). But it’s not always easy to feel grateful.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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