Is There a Catfish in Your Tank?

Hi all,
I just thought of sharing this, in hope it'd be a blessing for you :)

Is There a Catfish in Your Tank?

"Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you."

— 1 John 3:13

I heard a story about some fish suppliers who were
having problems shipping codfish from the East Coast.
By the time the fish reached the West coast, they were
spoiled. They froze them, but by the time the fish
arrived, they were mushy. They decided to send them
alive. But the fish arrived dead so they tried sending
the fish alive again, but with one difference. They
included a catfish in each tank. You see, the catfish
is the natural enemy of the codfish. By the time the
codfish arrived, they were alive and well, because
they had spent their trip fleeing the catfish.

This is my point. Maybe God has put a catfish in your
tank to keep you alive and well spiritually. It's
called persecution. Maybe there's a person at work who
always has eight hard questions for you every Monday
morning regarding spiritual things. Maybe it is that
neighbor who is giving you a hard time for your faith
in Jesus. Maybe it is a spouse or family member who
doesn't believe. You are wondering why this is
happening. It is like that catfish. That person is
keeping you on your toes.

Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus told the
disciples, "If you were of the world, the world would
love its own. Yet because you are not of the world,
but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world
hates you" (John 15:19).

God will allow persecution in the life of the
believer. If you're experiencing persecution, here are
two things to remember:

1.Persecution confirms that you are a child of God.
2.Persecution causes you to cling closer to Jesus.

When you are suffering persecution for your faith,
remember that this world is not your home.

** quoted from Greg Laurie ministry

God bless you!