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Date: | Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:50:14 -0600 |
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Is There A Catfish In Your Tank?
"Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you." (1 John 3:13).
I heard a story about some fish suppliers who were having problems
shipping codfish from the East Coast. By the time the fish reached
the West coast, they were spoiled. They froze them, but by the time
the fish arrived, they were mushy. They decided to send them alive.
But the fish arrived dead, so they tried sending the fish alive
again, but with one difference. They included a catfish in each tank.
You see, the catfish is the natural enemy of the codfish. By the time
the codfish arrived, they were alive and well, because they had spent
their trip fleeing the catfish.
This is my point. Maybe God has put a catfish in your tank to keep
you alive and well spiritually. It's called persecution. Maybe
there's a person at work who always has eight hard questions for you
every Monday morning regarding spiritual things. Maybe it is that
neighbor who is giving you a hard time for
your faith in Jesus. Maybe it is a spouse or family member who
doesn't believe. You are wondering why this is happening. It is like
that catfish. That person is keeping you on your toes.
Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples, "If you
were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are
not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the
world hates you." (John 15:19).
God will allow persecution in the life of the believer. If you're
experiencing persecution, here are two things to remember:
1. Persecution confirms that you are a child of God.
2. Persecution causes you to cling closer to Jesus.
When you are suffering persecution for your faith, remember that this
world is not your home.
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