"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
2 Timothy 3:12
Someone has correctly pointed out that the Bible must be “God’s Word” because of the honest and forthright way it deals with sinful man. A sinful man trying to write a bible would attempt to justify himself with words like, “I’m only human.” But the scriptures are always transparently honest when they speak about man. Our verse for today is one of those “honest” presentations about believers. Although we may rather try to look away, the Bible tells us what we need to hear. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” This is not pleasant to think about, but it is very important.
Paul, Timothy’s mentor, experienced personal persecution in ways that most of us cannot imagine (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). And in today’s passage he is talking to his son in the faith and letting him know that persecution is a normal part of the believer’s life. If Timothy was going to be a man of God who was faithful, then he should expect some personal problems to come as a result of his relationship with Jesus Christ. He should not tone down his message, or shrink back from the trouble, but he needed to continue his faithfulness, regardless of the consequences.
What about us? What can we expect? The verse is very clear, whoever wants to live a godly life being “in Christ,” better make up their mind that he/she will encounter persecution. We aren’t told what kind of persecution, only the fact that it will come. This persecution could be physical, emotional, social, and especially “religious” persecution. It could come from a variety of sources. The common denominator is being “in Christ.” “Godliness” can only be a part of the life of one who is “in Christ.” Outside of Jesus Christ there is no godliness! So the fact that we desire to be like Him, to worship Him, to love Him—whom this world hates, is reason enough for the world to persecute us just like it persecuted Jesus.
What if everybody loves me and I have never faced any kind of persecution in my life? That could say a lot about your dedication to godliness, and to Jesus. The two criteria for persecution in this verse are, 1) being in Christ Jesus. 2) being godly. If you never have anybody take exception to you as a believer, then maybe there is a problem in either your personal relationship with Jesus, or maybe there is a lack of a godly lifestyle that glorifies Him, or both.
Believers, stand firm on the Word. And remember Peter’s teaching, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy,” (1 Peter 4:12-13).