“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. . . . . . . . . . . . Therefore we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the affliction which you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgement of God, that you may be made worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.. . . . . . . . . .”
Excerpts, First Reading, Monday 26th August 2024 – 2 THESSALONIANS 1:1-5.11-12.
So, people actually got to suffer for their faith as Christians?
This same Paul also championed the cause of persecuting Christians in his former life until Jesus Christ arrested him and made him his Apostle.
Although, while Christians still face persecutions in some parts of the present world, a greater majority of us got this Christianity on a platter. Therefore, some of us tend to disregard the privilege.
If the people who witnessed the life of Jesus Christ and those who got converted to Christianity through the Apostles soon after the ascension of Christ could face such persecution, why then should preacher men keep going on and on about prosperity Gospel?
Those of us so pampered are usually quick to make reference to portions of the Holy Bible like, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” – PROVERBS 10:22.
When Jesus Christ healed the woman with the issue of blood, she did not also miraculously got plenty money transferred into her bank account.
However, after getting healed from her ailment, she would now be free and strong enough to concentrate her energies on her economic life.
So, the preacher men that see visions for those seeking visa and wanting to travel abroad should be scrutinised.
That abroad that such people want to escape to came about as a result of the toiling, sweat even the ultimate sacrifice of others.
It is quite appalling that in the Church, even Catholic Church, now, one will hear a Priest saying, I am seeing vision for somebody seeking visa to travel abroad. Somebody buying a new car. Someone getting a contract of billions of Naira.
If the same preacher man should go to a rural area Church where people there are predominantly farmers and peasants, his supposed visions may likely be, someone having a bumper harvest and things like that.
Dear friend, these are all conjectures.
The Christianity that the people in today’s teaching toiled for and some ended up paying the ultimate price for, is what these preacher men are now turning it into some caricature.
Fortunately, God is a patient Father.
My dear friend, this must be made very clear, one is not any less a Christian and a candidate of heaven by their economic prowess.
Neither is one experiencing persecutions right now not necessarily a better Christian and a heaven candidate.
What will really be a terrible end is after all one’s prosperity or toiling and suffering still doesn’t end up making heaven.
Dear friend, the key is this simple as Christ enjoins us, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’. . . . . .And you shall love your neighbour as yourself.” – MATTHEW 22:37-38.
Have a fantastic day and a fulfilled week ahead.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
26th Aug. 2024