Trouble

"Jesus promised his disciples three things---that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble." -DC Talk "Jesus Freaks II" (The book, not the song)


I started reading the book "Jesus Freaks" as a part of a Bible study my freshman year of college. Little did I know that this Bible study would be far from a mainstream study. The whole book is filled with stories of martyrdom and selfless acts done by people who love God. 


The quote above stood out to me more than any other quote in the book. It is a simple message of what Jesus's disciples stood for and what modern disciples should strive to stand for. They were a symbol of strength and bravery. Being a disciple is far from easy. As disciples we put ourselves in the midst of persecution in the hope of reaching one lost soul. Now you may be asking, "If it's scary, how can disciples be fearless?" This question has a simple answer...they were loved. 1 John 4:28a reads, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment." God's love is what gets us through even the toughest of situations and allows our fear to be cast far from our bodies. We may have an earthly punishment, but the ultimate achievement is a reward, not a punishment.


The second part of this quote addresses the attitude of a disciple. Although disciples should be persistent and determined, they should also be happy. Matthew 5:10 says, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Umm...hello! If that doesn't make you happy, I do not know what will! If you think persecution for God's sake is not worth it...think again! Our reward is eternal, so why not be happy about being a disciple of Jesus! James 1:2-3 reads, "Consider it pure joy my brothers when you face trials of many kinds for you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." Enjoy your struggles because they are temporary. Rejoice because He is eternal!


The final part of this quote again has to do with persecution. If you are suffering for your faith, good. Christianity is no longer mainstream. It is no longer accepted all over the U.S. "Jesus Freaks" can be a very appropriate title, hinting at the oddness of one expressing such a desire for their faith and for others to know the same joy. This upsets a lot of people and causes trouble. Now yes, we are called to be peacemakers, but being in trouble with people comes with the Christian territory. Now we are not going around stirring up trouble just for the heck of it, but we are following in the steps of Jesus. Jesus says in John 15:18 that "if the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first." There it is from the Lord Himself. We, as disciples, will be in trouble and be hated because He was hated and got into trouble with the people of His day. He told people that they were not perfect, He showed them the truth, and He uncovered the God-sized hole in their hearts. 


Challenge:  Be a real disciple. Be fearless, happy, and welcome trouble that comes with persecution .