"CRUSHED" (Mathew 13:21)

Matthew 13:21 says, "... tribulation or persecution arise because of the word..."

FIRST

First, of all, the reason that we have tribulation or persecution in our lives, is because of the word, and the stronger that the word is in us, lived through us, the more opposition that we will face.

SECOND

Secondly, in all the Greek and Hebrew context of these words, the dominant meanings have to do with outside pressures from individuals or groups of people, exerted upon us, not sickness or disease.

TRIBULATION

The Greek word is used over 40 times in the NT, and translated by the KJV as "tribulation", 21 times, and "affliction" , 17 times. The KJV also translates it as "trouble";  "anguish"; and  "burden".

The word literally means "to crush; press; compress; or squeeze". The word comes from the root meaning "to break".

The word translated "tribulation", comes from a Latin word "tribulum" which was a term used for a  threshing instrument, used to violently tear the quality grain loose from the stalks.

The actual Greek word gives us the vivid picture of pressing out grapes in a winepress, to squeeze out the valued juice.

PRESSURE

Both illustrations speak of tremendous pressure to get the results that are desired.

The word is used for both external and internal pressures that come against us, because of the word in our lives.

The devil means to use these pressures to crush us and render us inoperative for the kingdom or any other productive purpose.

God uses these attacks, against His word in our lives:

1) to demonstrate, to us, and to others, the quality of that word in us, that will not be destroyed.

2) to show, that like the juice, crushed from the grapes, the pressures that come against us only serve to make us more valuable for the service of others, and yield the quality product that is desired by all.

We will experience these external and internal pressures, because of the word in us, but we will not allow them to destroy us, but only to demonstrate through us, to others, the quality of who our Father has already made us to be.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours.