Persecution

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

In Fox’s Book of Martyrs (a staple both when I went to Bible College and when homeschooling the children) we are given a very long list of men and women who went to their deaths (often in horrendous situations). And while we all SAY we would gladly go ‘up against the wall’ for Christ, I for one am honest enough to say that if that REALLY happened to me, I just don’t know what I would do! Maybe to protect Susan or the kids, but to do it just for my belief? That’s a hard one if we are being honest. I really don’t care for being boiled in oil or having my arms and legs ripped off or being torn apart by wild beasts.

That happens on a smaller scale today in some parts of the world, though. What is REALLY scary is that it’s going to happen again in the whole world and on a massive scale. But the promise given at the same time is that they will have a VERY special place in the coming Kingdom. Still a scary thought-I really, REALLY don’t like pain-

Scripture:

Revelation 14:12-13

Philippians 1:21

II Corinthians 5:6-8

Prayer: Strengthen my resolve, Lord. I am not strong, and I am really scared of what I might face. Help me to lean totally on Your strength, so that if it does happen to me that my tormenters can see You in me and maybe realize that You are the truth and the way.