PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

[Ranb2khz]

Blessing in Persecution

"Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory. If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. He is blasphemed because of them, but He is glorified because of you." ~ 1 Peter 4:12-14

Although we certainly do not feel blessed when we’re insulted and persecuted, Jesus said that we are, in fact, blessed:

"You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you." ~ Matthew 5:11-12

The Lord’s perspective on persecution differs from ours — He considers it a positive thing if we suffer in His name. Persecution is good for several reasons:

It proves our faith. The only way we can know the capacity of our faith is by means of testing. When we persevere through a trial, we begin to understand that we can remain steadfast and obedient in the midst of a challenge. We also learn the magnitude of God’s strength to support us through persecution.

It purifies our life. Persecution snaps our attention away from meaningless things and onto the Lord. We are driven into His arms by suffering. As we grow closer to Him, He’ll bring to our awareness wrong attitudes and actions — some related to our trial and some not — for which we must repent. Persecution is a powerful cleansing tool.

It prepares us for greater service. Suffering breaks our self-reliance and pride — attitudes that hinder our usefulness for the Lord. Pride crumbles when we realize we’re incapable of living the Christian life on our own, especially when we’ve been insulted and hurt.

A life of ease and pleasure isn’t always a sign of blessing. So let’s not “be surprised at the fiery ordeal ... as though some strange thing were happening” (1 Peter 4:12). If persecution strengthens our faith, purifies our hearts, and equips us for greater service, then we should thank the Lord for the way He will use it in our lives.

https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/blessing-in-persecution