Skip to main content

Persecution

 

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4)

His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. (Acts 5:40-42) 

          A friend loaned me a book that provides an inside view of what the Huguenots (French Protestants) faced in the late 1600s. If you read Fox’s Book of Martyrs, you’ll discover the horrors faced by other Christians. According to Aid to the Church in Need, 2019 was one of the bloodiest years ever in terms of attacks on Christians.[1] I don’t know the parameters they used, and I don’t know whether or not they are accurate in that claim, but I do know that attacks on Christians seem to be increasing, and I’ve read Daniel and Revelation. I have a tiny clue about what’s coming at some point.

          Quite frankly, I can’t imagine not recanting if the choice to were to recant or face what the girl in the book I’m reading faced. I can’t imagine being as strong as she’s depicted. Even more, I can’t imagine considering it an honor to be tortured, as the apostles did. I am greatly convinced of my weakness, but I am also greatly convinced that God can give the grace needed to survive such torment. My hope, should that day come, is not in my courage, strength, or will, but in God’s mercy and provision.

          I’ve read of people who put themselves on diets of moldy, maggoty bread and rotten fruit to prepare

          I know a lot of people who are less fond of confrontation than they believe I am. I don’t actually like confrontation, either, but I’m trying to learn to handle it better. One of the things I need to do is what I’ve been talking about frequently of late – to turn my focus to God instead of blaming or pitying myself. Another is to study even harder. Becoming physically stronger may help a little, but deepening my faith in God through the Word, that’s a better answer.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...
2 comments
Read more

Think About These Things

                 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) This passage is a major challenge for me. Like everyone else, I struggle to keep my thoughts from wandering off into the weeds, then wondering what possible benefits those weeds might have… Sigh. But as a writer, I have to delve at least a little into the ignoble, wrong, impure, unlovely, and debased. After all, there’s no story if everything’s just as it should be and everyone’s happy. As Christians, there are times when we need to deal with all the negatives, but that makes it even more important that we practice turning our minds by force of attention to what is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. It’s just too easy to get stuck in a swamp. With my...
1 comment
Read more

A Virgin?

           Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)           This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)           But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”            “How will this be,” Mary asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more