Epaggelia

1,946 years ago today, a fire began to burn in Rome. It burnt for 6 days and we only have two contemporary historians that tell us about it, Tacitus and Pliny. No one really knows why Rome burnt, but for whatever reason, Christians got the blame because they had been the named group at the center of an argument amongst enemies of Rome, the Jews! What happened in Jerusalem by Pilate, was already having an ill effect beyond another continent. Although the Christians were targeted by Rome for being instigators against Roman authority, they had no idea that the love of God would turn them into TREASURES. Sometimes even today, Christians feel like they are being targeted, we may feel like our whole society has turned against us and the exclusive values of Christ. Most worldly people want to tolerate everything and anyone, except Christians, but never forget this: God has made us treasures even when we feel like we are targets. Jesus said, Everyone will know by this, that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35). The love of God that His Spirit pours into our hearts is to be shared, (Rom. 5:5) Why? So that when fires burn around us, we can respond with His love. What better way to put fiery temptations out, than with love? When Jesus was made a target by his critics, He spoke the truth in love. Look for ways to do this and God will use you to overcome evil with good, no matter how hot it gets!
The greatest blessing we have in being a Christian is the forgiving presence of God Himself in the Spirit of Christ, read 2 Corinthians 13:5, and Romans 8:9. Both of those verses point out the necessity of Jesus being within our body. A great treasure, placed within jars of clay. 2nd Corinthians 4:7.