“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:16-22 ESV
In the time of Jesus and His apostles, persecution took the form of flogging, stoning, imprisoning, slandering, and often torture ending in death (i.e. crucifixion). While, in the United States, we may not be subjected to flogging or stoning, we are still set upon by those who refuse to believe God and His word. A friend offered encouraging words recently when I was going through a particularly trying time of persecution. He quoted, “When the argument is lost, slander becomes the tool of the enemy.” I was shaken. This time was the first I had ever felt anything like persecution. I have been cursed at and called vile names, but this time the insults (veiled and unveiled) came from family and some I had called friends. It had me questioning whether what I was doing was right or not. But, after hours of study, prayer, and conference with brothers and sisters in Christ who are wiser than me, I came out stronger and with a greater sense of what it means to deny yourself and follow Christ.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12
Dealing with persecution in the moment is incredibly hard. It’s hard to be against the people you love the most on this earth. It’s hard to stand up when their insults and attacks keep knocking you down. It’s hard to stay calm when they attack the faith you are working on everyday. It’s hard, but not impossible. Nothing is impossible when we lean on God.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” Psalm 9:9
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22
When we persevere through persecution, we come out with a stronger faith and a greater sense of who we are in Christ and of the reward when we put our unwavering faith in Him. Persevering through persecution brings peace because we know that whatever happens to us in this life is nothing compared to the joy that is waiting.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:9-13
“You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.” Luke 21:16-19
By the grace of God and through the wonderful Christians He has put in my life, I was able to walk out of this time of persecution a stronger Christian with an even greater desire and drive to defend His word and go to war against sin and the father of lies. I see so many people who are being deceived by satan and even though they slander me and attack my faith, I have peace knowing that no matter what happens, God is right there with me and I will not back down when souls are at stake.