WEEK 2 DAY 2
Success Brings Scrutiny
Devotional
It seems backwards, doesn't it? The more faithful you become, the more difficulties you face. The more you serve God, the more opposition you encounter. We often expect that following Jesus should make life easier, but the reality is quite different. Elijah experienced this firsthand. After one of the greatest spiritual victories in history, calling down fire from heaven and defeating 450 prophets of Baal, he found himself running for his life from Queen Jezebel's death threats. His troubles didn't come from failure; they came from spectacular success in serving God. This pattern repeats throughout Scripture and continues today. The enemy doesn't waste energy on people who aren't making a difference. If you've never felt spiritual opposition, it might be worth asking whether you're truly threatening the kingdom of darkness. Those who are advancing God's kingdom, influencing others for Christ, and living with eternal purpose will inevitably face resistance. But don't let this discourage you. Instead, let it encourage you to know that your life is making an impact. When opposition comes because of your faithfulness, it's actually a confirmation that you're aligned with Christ's mission. The enemy only targets what threatens him. Yes, following Jesus is challenging. But it's also the only life worth living, a life of eternal significance that makes a real difference in this world.
Bible Verse
'Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.' - Matthew 5:11
Reflection Question
How does knowing that spiritual opposition often follows spiritual success change your perspective on the difficulties you're facing?
Quote
The more successful you are for the kingdom, the more you will be targeted for destruction.
Prayer
Father, help me to see opposition as confirmation that I'm making a difference for Your kingdom. Give me the courage to continue serving You faithfully, even when it brings challenges. Let my life be a threat to darkness and a light to others. Amen.
*This devo was developed using Sermon Shots
It seems backwards, doesn't it? The more faithful you become, the more difficulties you face. The more you serve God, the more opposition you encounter. We often expect that following Jesus should make life easier, but the reality is quite different. Elijah experienced this firsthand. After one of the greatest spiritual victories in history, calling down fire from heaven and defeating 450 prophets of Baal, he found himself running for his life from Queen Jezebel's death threats. His troubles didn't come from failure; they came from spectacular success in serving God. This pattern repeats throughout Scripture and continues today. The enemy doesn't waste energy on people who aren't making a difference. If you've never felt spiritual opposition, it might be worth asking whether you're truly threatening the kingdom of darkness. Those who are advancing God's kingdom, influencing others for Christ, and living with eternal purpose will inevitably face resistance. But don't let this discourage you. Instead, let it encourage you to know that your life is making an impact. When opposition comes because of your faithfulness, it's actually a confirmation that you're aligned with Christ's mission. The enemy only targets what threatens him. Yes, following Jesus is challenging. But it's also the only life worth living, a life of eternal significance that makes a real difference in this world.
Bible Verse
'Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.' - Matthew 5:11
Reflection Question
How does knowing that spiritual opposition often follows spiritual success change your perspective on the difficulties you're facing?
Quote
The more successful you are for the kingdom, the more you will be targeted for destruction.
Prayer
Father, help me to see opposition as confirmation that I'm making a difference for Your kingdom. Give me the courage to continue serving You faithfully, even when it brings challenges. Let my life be a threat to darkness and a light to others. Amen.
*This devo was developed using Sermon Shots