It’s often been said that Stephen was the first Christian Martyr but that’s not the case. John the Baptist was. He was killed because of his faith in Christ and His unwillingness to waiver on the truth of the Word of Christ. And this is where we need to learn a very hard truth this morning. Though one of Christ’s plans in creating us and saving us is that we would be satisfied in Him in this life, our greater purpose has very little to do with our satisfaction. As Paul says in Romans 14:8, “for if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” Our purpose is to live and die for the Lord. It doesn’t matter whether you are physically or financially blessed in this life as a Christian, all that matters is whether or not your life and death glorify God. It doesn’t really matter in the greater scheme whether or not you can find satisfaction in your hardship. All that matters is whether or not you fulfill your purpose for the kingdom. And yet, what a joy to be able to find joy and satisfaction in the hard times. What a joy to be set free from the pain and find a peace that passes all understanding. God will do what he must, but we can still be blessed by learning how to find satisfaction in the hard times. This is God’s desire for you and for me. I can assure you, John the Baptist fulfilled his purpose, and I hope he found satisfaction in knowing that Jesus was using him for a much greater plan then he could ever understand. The main point this morning is simple, blessed are those when hard times come, they are not offended by God who has purpose in their hardships.
Outcasts Part 2: John The Martyr (Matthew 11:1-19, Mark 6:14-29)
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