What You Can Expect: One Year Bible Reading for January 15

 Today's blog ties right into yesterday's, and I didn't even mean to do that! So today we read from the following passages:

Genesis 31:17-32:12
Matthew 10:24-11:6
Psalm 13:1-6
Proverbs 3:16-18

And the one that jumps out at me is the first part of the reading from Matthew. The student is not above the master. If Jesus was called Beelzebub, then we can expect the same kind of treatment.

The world is going to hate us. Jesus told us very plainly and clearly: "In this world, you will have trouble." You can plan on it. The world will hate us and try to hurt us. It's a given. If you're expecting it, then it won't surprise you when it happens. And then you get to remember the second part of what Jesus told us: "But take heart. I have overcome the world."

Are you feeling like people are trying to undermine Christianity? They are. Do you think there is a huge agenda to break down families? There is. Do you think lots of powerful people want to kill off a large part of the populace? They do. Not only have they made this clear, but we were told to expect these things by Jesus. So don't be surprised! But be ready. Pray. Confess whatever sins are holding you down. Ask for Jesus to use you in the battle for the souls of humanity. 

God already won. The enemy is already defeated. We just get to watch it play out all around us. 

God, thanks for telling us WAY ahead of time that we will have troubles in this world. Thank You for also telling us to take heart.