February 17: ATTEMPTS TO SILENCE THE WORD

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12

Jacques Lefevre’s writings were quietly circulating about France seven years prior to Luther’s famous nailing of his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg in AD1517. A few years later Lefevre published a translation of the New Testament in the common tongue of France. Within two years of this publishing, the Catholic church condemned Lefevre as a heretic. He was forced to flee France. But in the previous fifteen relatively peaceful years, Lefevre spread light among his students and wrote prolifically, pointing people toward salvation as provided in the Word.

One of his young students, William Farel, continued to declare truth within France’s borders long after the attempt to silence his teacher’s voice. Like Lefevre, Farel had been raised staunchly Roman Catholic. But upon hearing the Bible preached, he joyfully and gratefully accepted it. God's Word, said Farel, changed his heart from the murderous heart of a ravening wolf to that of a meek and harmless lamb. His heart withdrew from the pope and was given entirely to Jesus Christ. Farel went very public with his declarations of biblical truth.

All the while, Lefevre worked quietly in the background from outside of France for the benefit of his beloved countrymen. Adherents of all classes were won, including high-ranking teachers, a bishop, and the sister of King Frances I. For a time, the king himself and the queen mother regarded the Reformation with favor. Thus, victories in Christ multiplied freely across France. But, in keeping with the familiar old pattern of history, severe persecution lay in wait for the French disciples of Christ….

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:12-13

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. Philippians 1:12