To my brethren in the Lord ...
{Mat 7:13-14 KJV} Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Every time I want to hide in the corner, fearful of what I may suffer for being *outspoken* for His name's sake; I see Him hanging on that cross for ME. I hope this resonates for you as well because He hung there and died for you too. As the end-time bride, you need to -decide- if you are going to stand for Him, come what may, or try to hide and hope you're not noticed. Think.
{Mat 16:24-27 KJV} Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. {see also: Mar 8:34-38, Luk 9:23-26, Luk 17:26-37 KJV}
Your works DO matter and your actions now, and to *the end*, will determine your rewards. Please take note: when something in the bible is repeated more than once (twice, three times, or more), this is called witnesses, or testimonies, don't just idly scan by these. Repeated scripture means you are to pay attention. The more witnesses shown on a matter the more important it is that you read each one and apply it to your own life & behavior. Are you awake and ready? Or are you asleep or worse, ill-prepared? {Mat 25's parable of the 10 virgins comes to mind, which are you?} Are you ashamed of Him or His word? Are you afraid of potential persecution? Don't you know that your actions, or lack thereof, speak louder than words? Think.
{Mar 8:38 KJV} Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
{Luk 9:26 KJV} For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and [in his] Father's, and of the holy angels.
Will the Lord be ashamed of you? Are you HIDING His Light? Think.
{Luk 8:16-18 KJV} No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth [it] under a bed; but setteth [it] on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither [any thing] hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
{Luk 11:33 KJV} No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth [it] in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
What will be your testimony when you finally meet those that have given their lives before you? Is fear ruling your life and keeping you from being the instrument the Lord needs you to be in these end of days? Do you suppose that the devil doesn't know who you are, and where you are, right this minute? Do you suppose the devil didn't know where Corrie Ten Boom was and what she was doing, as she tried to quietly but diligently save Jewish lives? Do you really think you can hide and be safe? NO, you can't. We are to be witnesses to those that will come after us, just like the believers of the ages, all of us -Esthers- in the making, born for such a time as this! We are writing our witness of the Lord, the One whom we've believed in but not yet seen, just as the apostles, disciples, and prophets of old did for which we are now the beneficiaries. Think.
{Est 4:14 KJV} For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, [then] shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for [such] a time as this?
Will you live the remainder of your days in fear, a spirit that is doled out by the devil? How will your testimony end? Will history write how you hid in fear? Or will it outshine those testimonies we've all come to know and love, the very reasons you & I have faith at all in this day and age? Think.
{2Ti 1:7 KJV} For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Will you take up your cross as Jesus has asked? Think.
{Mat 5:10-16 KJV} Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
I hope you will consider shining His Light in this dark evil world, so that you can finish your race knowing you did all you could for His sake laying aside your own fears (which are not from Him anyway). Think.
{2Ti 1:8-14 KJV} Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
The only one we're pleasing with our silence is ... the devil.
{Eze 3:18 KJV} When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked [man] shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Think.
{Curly bracket comments are mine. Red letter text is quoting Jesus.}
