By Shirley Rosemarie Evans
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Matthew 5:10
“We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!”
But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.
They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.
The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.
Acts 5:28,29 40b,41
All around the world today, Christians are being persecuted for their faith. A Pastor is shot, saints are burned alive in their church buildings, believers are tortured for this gospel, and poor young girls are kidnapped and raped and forced to bear children for their captors.
At first glance, it is hard to see the blessing. Some might even argue that it is definitely more of a curse. But then I read the story of Peter and the other apostles in Acts chapter 5. Having been arrested and miraculously freed from jail, the apostles immediately returned to the Temple to continue preaching. They were rearrested and confronted by the Jewish leaders about their refusal to obey the command to stop preaching. Peter and the others boldly state that they must obey God rather than any human authority. Brave words indeed. The apostles then went on to preach about Christ and salvation, infuriating the Jewish leaders even further. I can almost sense their rage at the audacity of the apostles; the thought brings a smile to my face, and I wonder if I would be so bold. On this occasion, the apostles are merely flogged, dismissed, and ordered never to speak in the name of Jesus again.
Verse 41 is the one that really got my attention. It says: -
“The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.”
The apostles considered it a blessing that they should be persecuted for His name’s sake. Most of us today count blessings in terms of abundance or supernatural provision – the unexpected financial windfall or the promotion you did not see coming, and indeed, they are. But let’s be honest: how many of us count our sufferings and trials as a blessing? Yet as we consider Christ the Savior of the whole world, lived a sinless life, healed the sick, set the captives free, raised the dead, then as we consider all that Christ endured on our behalf –
He was rejected
He was falsely accused
He was beaten
He was crucified
He went through all this so that we might be set free, that we might know love, have peace and the hope of eternal life. Indeed, whatever we go through on His behalf cannot compare to what He endured on our behalf.
We are blessed to know that we are counted as one of His and that He Christ promises never to leave us. The truth is that in our suffering, we draw ever closer to Him, we develop more Christ-like character, and all our struggles do not compare to the glorious eternity we will have with our Savior. so we confidently build our lives in Him, the solid rock, knowing that no matter how hard the winds of this life will blow, it is all to the good, and we are indeed blessed, and the kingdom is not just theirs but ours.
Ask: Why, throughout history and in our present time, are Christians targeted, hated and persecuted?
Seek: As a believer, you have been, you are, or you will be persecuted- how can you count it blessed during your sufferings?
Knock: Pray for believers worldwide who are presently enduring persecution. Join an organisation such as Open Doors International, The Voice of Martyrs, and many others, where you can offer practical help and prayer for all who are going through it.
