Abundant Life

I’m currently reading “The Great Controversy” by Ellen White.  This is an amazing book that takes you from the Dark Ages through the reformation and to the end times.    This morning I read about Wycliffe, a man who boldly stood up against popular beliefs.   The Dark Ages was a time when the Bible was almost completely extinguished and it was widely taught and accepted that you had to earn your way to heaven.  This belief drove the economy into poverty while the church leaders lived luxurious lifestyles. 

“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.  If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.  John 15:20. 

I read this morning that the church is not being persecuted because we have made so many compromises.  If the faith and power of the early church was revived, persecution would return.

In fact, it appears that many of us have compromised with the world.  Christianity has become popular because of it’s lack of godliness.

2 Timothy 3:12 says, “….all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”.  Are you being persecuted?  If not, what does that mean?

After Jesus’ resurrection he was sitting with his disciples on a beach around a small fire.  While sitting there, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him.  Each time Peter responded with a humble “yes”.  Each time Jesus asked, Peter felt more and more pain – as he wanted Jesus to believe that he truly did love Him.  Jesus asked three times, which was the same number of times that Peter denied Jesus.  Jesus asked Peter in front of the other disciples so that they would all see Peter’s repentance and fully accept him back into the group.  (more…)