1 Kings 18:17–18 (ESV): 17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.
The world is crying out, “Christians are the problem. Let’s get rid of them so we can live in peace.” What they are saying is, “Let’s extinguish the light so we can live in darkness.” Don’t be surprised by their hatred. Just keep shining your light.
After some time in Sidon, the Lord told Elijah to go and stand before Ahab, and then He would make it rain. On his way, he ran into Obadiah, Ahab’s household manager. He feared the Lord and thus hid one hundred prophets in caves from Jezebel, Ahab's wife. Obadiah told Ahab Elijah was in the land and the two met. Ahab called Elijah, “the troubled of Israel.” He despised him because he walked with God. Ahab was really to blame for departing the ways of the Lord.
How has the world’s opposition to Christ affected your witness? Jesus said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you (Jn 15:18).” This is to be expected. We can not allow the haters to deter us from being the light. God has placed us here, as He did Elijah, to reach our culture with the Gospel. Some will fully reject it, but some won’t! Love your countrymen enough to face the hatred with grace and goodness. This is what Jesus did while He was here! So you do the same. Amen?
Father, thank You for sending Your Son to be our Light. Help us to let our lights shine brightly even amid opposition we pray in Jesus' name, amen.
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