if you are not getting persecuted, there is something wrong

[robaston]

should difficulty, opposition, considerable effort be marks of a righteous life?

 

[amadeus2]

should difficulty, opposition, considerable effort be marks of a righteous life?

Absolutely, my friend! That is what happened to Jesus and if we are walking where we should be walking it will happen to us as well. Either people should be strong on our side or strong against us. If there are many, who seem to be riding somewhere in between with us, it may be that they are lukewarm ones to be spit out of God's mouth. Hopefully we won't be the lukewarm ones either.

The United States is on the approach to becoming a worse place perhaps for really true believers than other countries already are. The evil is not so readily seen at times because so many who bear the label of Christian scarcely really know more than the four letters of the name of Jesus. As the end draws nearer, the noose will tighten for those who know the Truth and stand by it in spite of the physical harm it may bring to them. Many people will drown without really ever learning to swim.

Too many people are depending too much on America to stand up and be counted as a nation 100% behind Jesus. This has in many ways been a good country, but it is slipping fast and the reason is because people are slipping farther and farther away from God. Is it likely to make a complete turn around soon or ever?

 

[robaston]

Either people should be strong on our side or strong against us.

like this

 

[Ophel]

We are either the fragrance of life or the stench of death, but we should never not smell at all!

2 Corinthians 2:15-16
Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?


.

 

[robaston]

i like this version is it new niv?

 

[Ophel]

i like this version is it new niv?

No, it's the New Living Translation. I use it a lot.